Hide and seek is an age old game most if not all have played as a child. Someone counts preferably with eyes closed. Scurrying around we find somewhere to hide sure they won’t find us. Anxiously we wait for the count of 10 with a shout of ‘ready or not’. Quietly we stay in our spot with anticipation of the moment certain to come when they find us. Secretly we want to be the best at hiding and take the longest to find. But we all want found.
As a child I played the game. As a parent I watched my children play. And as a grandparent I watch my grandbabies play.
I especially find it a joy to watch them play as little children. They ‘hide’ in wide open view with covered eyes fully believing others can’t see them. Because they can’t, right. I mean if I can’t see you then you can’t see me.
Or better yet, they hide in the same exact spot every single time as if they’ve never hidden there before. And every time they’re found it’s with the same excitement as the last time. For both the hider and the seeker.
It just doesn’t get old. Well, maybe it does after two dozen rounds. But until then it’s pretty exciting.
Life.
Our lives can be a little like hide and seek. Just not as much fun. Because there is real hurt involved, reasons that drive us into hiding, and wishes we could be found. Truly found.
The last couple of days I’ve thought of how we feel lost in desperate search instead of hidden with anticipation.
Who am I?
I’m the drug addict trying to find my way back to you. Please find me.
I’m the desperately grieving widow trying to find my way to somewhere I’ve never been. Please find me.
I’m the forgotten child trying to find a family. Please find me.
I’m the abused trying to find love. Please find me.
I’m the rejected trying to find acceptance. Please find me.
I’m the scared and lonely sinking in the sea of depression. Please find me.
I’m living with regret trying to find forgiveness. Please find me.
I’m the tossed and tattered in the storm trying to find peace. Please find me.
I’m standing on the front line of battle trying to find my way home. Please find me.
I’m the person who feels like a failure at everything I do trying to find affirmation. Please find me.
I’m the one who everyone else thinks has the perfect life trying to find a way to be perfect. Please find me.
I’m the person who silently cries over hurts I’ve never spoken out loud trying to find healing. Please find me.
I’m looking for love. Unconditional love.
I’m desperately searching to be found.
“We all want to be found”
How can I be found.
This morning my baby walked around behind me with her blanket in one arm, pacifier in her mouth, bottle in her hand raised to me crying to be held. Persistently she followed me. As I made my coffee, dried my hair, got dressed, made my lunch, and wandered to the living room for a few minutes before it was time to leave. I didn’t have a few minutes available but she was persistent. I knew I couldn’t leave without holding her. Persistence.
With diligent persistence she pursued my attention. I answered.
As I spent the morning with her pursuit of my attention I was reminded – this is how we are found. Truly found.
We pursue. Search. Seek. Desperately. Wanting to be found. Jesus finds us.
His word assures us that when we seek we will find.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened ~ Luke 11:10
Over and over throughout the bible he assures us that if we seek him we will find. We will be found.
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:13
I want to assure each of you, regardless of who you are, that when you seek him you will find him. We all struggle with battles others may know nothing about. We feel lost in desperate search to be found. Forgiveness. Love. Peace. Affirmation. Hope. Family. Belonging. Freedom. Joy. The answer to our every need is Jesus. He never leaves. He never forsakes us. We may in the midst of our battles fail to seek him through the hurt, but if we do, we will find him. When we find him, we will be found.
Just like a child we need to be found more than once. Yesterday, I needed him. Today, I need him. Tomorrow, I need him. And each day after, I’ll need him again. My only way to be found is to seek him & find him in the middle of my mess.
Friend, with the persistence of a child, today, tomorrow, and each day after, pursue after Jesus. You will find him. You will be found. Bobbie
