OUR HIDING PLACE
15th Jul 2020
Arn’t you glad that you know Jesus, and that God Himself is your ‘hiding place’? So many people are fearful and hopeless, feel alone, worry about the next meal and the future. In fact, anxiety is becoming a crippling disease in these times, and sadly is being constantly fed through the media, and causing almost simultaneously numbing fear and an abandonment of caution and clear thinking.
The days in which Isaiah lived were not dissimilar. Disaster was hanging over the nation, fear was all around, but God was there and always will be, and Isaiah’s messages brought comfort and hope.
In Isaiah 8:12, he tells us, “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy, do not fear what they fear and do not dread it.” We are rather to think about our ‘hiding place’, our shelter from the storm, our provider, our defence against danger. The Message puts to this way, “Don’t fear what they fear. Don’t take on their worries.”
Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you,” my parting gift, not just peace for the future, but peace for everyday living, wisdom for moment by moment decisions, well being and faith. God’s promises make believers different from those who do not know God in a personal way.
From the safety of our ‘hiding place’ we are called to intercede for a very lost world, to feel God’s compassion for those who are without hope, to ask for God’s mercy and intervention, for a revelation of how much He is longing to help and intervene in personal circumstances.
Your personal place of peace and rest can be your greatest testimony at this time, not necessarily words, but living in a place of quiet rest, leaning on the Holy Spirit, listening with intent and trusting in your Father’s provision.
It’s in darkness that light becomes most visible - so let your light manifest peace and hope today.
An old hymn really sums this up -
How good is the God we adore, our faithful unchangeable Friend;
Whose love is as great as His power, and knows neither measure nor end!
’Tis Jesus, the First and the Last, whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We’ll praise Him for all that is past, and trust His for all that’s to come.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
