Nowhere to Hide

Do you ever have times when you're so down in the dumps that you're in a very dark place in your mind? Do you ever have moments where you just want the world to go away and leave you alone? Where you just want to pull the covers over your head instead of facing the day? When you don't want anyone to cheer you up because you just want to be left alone in your misery? And in those times do you even wish that Jesus would leave you alone too? It's kind of like hosting a "pity-party for one" and not wanting anyone to "crash" it.

But the Psalmist wrote, "Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?....Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you." - Psalm 139: 7, 12

In those "dark" moments Jesus is there waiting patiently. (probably tapping his toes and checking his watch every now and again? - Naw) He waits and waits and waits for the "pity-party" to be over and when we finally get over those self-imposed sorrowful feelings, Jesus is there waiting to embrace us.

Jesus doesn't abandon us just because we've turned our backs to him. He loves us all the time and will never give up on us. Even if we try to push him away from us, he won't budge. There is nothing we can try to do that will MAKE him go away. There is nothing we can try to do that will MAKE him not love us. And if we try to run away from him we can't even find anywhere to "hide!"

(The LORD GOD) tends his flock like a Shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. - Isaiah 40:11

So in those pitiful "dark" times when we crumple and have a "meltdown" Jesus knows our weakness and he gathers us up in his arms and carries us close to his heart. When the pity-party is over he wipes our tears away. Then he sets us back down and he takes us by the hand giving His reassurance of his never ending love.

When we're ready to face the world again and move forward, he walks right along side of us at our pace. - - Not in front of us leading or dragging us, not pushing us forward from behind, but walking right along side of us stepping in time.

We aren't promised a life of ease and it would be unrealistic for us to expect it. The "dark" times may be unavoidable but in John 16:33 Jesus said "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus doesn't want us to lose heart in our times of trouble. He just wants us to know that we always have him to lean on when we feel like the burden is too much for us to carry! And as the Psalmist wrote, You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. - Psalm 32:7

Isn't it great that Jesus is so very patient. Isn't it great that he never gives up on us, especially when we can be like stubborn mules!

Thank you Jesus. Thank you for never giving up on me even when I feel like giving up on you. Amen.