WHO IS HIDING
Today's reading: Genesis 25-26, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 10:1-11

"O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?" Psalm 10:1 NLT

Let's be honest this morning. Really honest.

During those times when the Lord seems so far away...

Those days when you are having to look so hard to see Him...

Those lonely, miserable, faithless times...

Do you really think God has moved?

Do you honestly think He is hiding from you?

Left you in the lurch?

Removed Himself from the situation?

He hasn't.

Here is what I believe happens more often than not...

We have so much 'junk' piled up, accumulated and hoarded around that we cannot see Him!

Oh, not sinful things.

Things like our best attempts to do it ourselves. Trophies. Placques. Certificates of effort. Because we've always heard that God helps those who help themselves.

Or the boxes of beliefs we have. Like the one labeled, 'Real Christians Shouldn't Be Having To Deal With This', or 'What Would Folks Think If They Knew About This'. Or my most used box, 'I Can Handle This On My Own'.

Or the tote bags bulging with dreamed up expectations, set-in-stone plans and my favorite-comfortable things. Things we are choosing not to part with. Things that have been placed upon us because of tradition or delegation.

Things that block our view of God. Where He has been the whole time.

It's when we begin throwing things away, donating them to Goodwill and climbing over the tops of boxes that were bequeathed to us by well-meaning friends and family members--we see He is with us.

He has been with us all along!