Hide & Seek

In high school, I babysat a lot for my neighbors. The kids’ favorite game to play was hide and seek. However, their version of the game was just them hiding and making me find them over and over again. I'd walk around the house saying, "Are they in here?" which was always followed by some distant giggling. Even though I always knew exactly where they were hiding, I tried to draw out their anticipation as long as I could. Nothing could beat their joyous reaction whenever I’d find them. You see, as much as the kids loved to hide, what they really loved is being found. There's a specific feeling you experience when you are found. You know, the feeling where it's like everything comes together, and joy just floods your system. I don't think God designs us this way by accident. Since the fall of man, we have served a God who seeks after His children and delights in restoring the brokenness in the world.

God is the ultimate seeker. He doesn't just seek after those who repent, He continually seeks after each and every lost soul on this earth. He was the first seeker, and He is seeking you. The God of the universe is also a collector. I'm here to tell you that you may not feel like a prize worth collecting, but God says you are. He is the only person who determines your worth. Jeremiah 1:4-8 says that before you even came into existence, Jesus was thinking of you. He knew all your failures and flaws, yet still decided to die on the cross for you. The fact of the matter is, when Jesus breathed His last breath, you were on His mind.

You may be in a place where you feel you're unworthy of love, forgiveness, or saving. Maybe you've had people in your life try to tell you that you’re a mistake or they’ve walked out on you. Maybe you've had people tell you that the baggage you carry is too much for them, leaving you to carry the load on your own. I want to tell you this: it's not our sin or brokenness that keeps us from God, it's our perception that we aren't broken that does. When we deny God the opportunity to heal what is broken, we ultimately deny God the opportunity to do what He does best. Since the beginning of time, God has sought to care for His children. I want to turn our attention to Genesis 3: 21 when God clothes Adam and Eve after they’ve sinned and realized they were naked. Even in one of the darkest moments in history, God's response to sin was still to provide for us. Not only that, the Bible says that God clothed them in "skins". This suggests that something or someone had to die so that Adam and Eve might be covered. Do you know who else had to die so that we might be covered? Jesus. God's response to sin was already pointing directly to Christ's coming and restoration. So, whatever baggage you carry, I promise it’s not too much for God. That story is a beautiful example of God's immeasurable love and incredible omnipotence. When it seemed like the world was spinning out of control, God turned it around into the greatest love story to ever exist. If He can do that, I think He can handle whatever you are dealing with too.

But what happens when we are blind to our brokenness or simply refuse to admit it? I want to warn you that righteousness can actually be a greater barrier to the kingdom than sin. Take the story of the Pharisees, for example. When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand in the temple, the Pharisees were angry because He didn’t uphold the sabbath. They became so wrapped up in their own ways and teachings that they started to believe they didn't need God. The Pharisees had a form of godliness but couldn't even recognize God in their midst. However, we continuously see the sick and hurt surrender their brokenness before Jesus and receive His restoration power all throughout the rest of the gospels. The reality is that when we get comfortable in God’s Word, we become so accustomed to our traditions and our own ways. In turn, we start forgetting His truth and His promises because we think we already know it all.

So, today's message isn't a long one, but please hear me when I say this: if you're broken and needy, you're in a great place to be found this week. God is chasing after you, and He is welcoming you with open arms. He already knows your pain, He knows your past, He knows your shame, and He knows your story. The person who knows you best in this world, loves you the most in the world. You will never be more loved than how much you are already loved right now by God. So, bring your hurt, and lay it down before Him. You may be broken and scarred, but Jesus' hands are too so let Him hold your heart.

May your roots run deep and your faith remain strong! As always, stay rooted, my friend! <3