Our Hiding Place

This has been on my heart since Wednesday but I couldn’t find a quiet place to write down my thoughts.
Add to that the fact that I love being in a certain frame of mine when writing #OnlineBibleStudy…so I just felt like passing it up, but it just won’t leave.
Maybe someone out there needs it, so I am obeying. I am writing what I can with my less-than-ready self and trusting God to light up the life He wants to light up with it.

Wednesday last week, I was so down. I was sitting at the bank, running an errand when stuff just began to run through my mind. I was asking God some questions and tears filled my eyes as I spoke to Him.
I couldn’t wait to get to the prayer room at Church so I could speak with God ALONE.
When I got to be with Him though, I couldn’t say a lot. I was just crying and the words just wouldn’t come out.

As I lay there though in tears though, I remembered that there was also one woman whose mouth couldn’t say what she was feeling.
I remembered Hannah and opened my Bible to her story.
Hannah was barren and her husband’s other wife kept taunting her and making her sad, till one day…

“After they had eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”
As she continued praying before the Lord , Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my Lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.”
Then Eli answered, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him.” And she said, “Let your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.”
 -1 Samuel 1:9‭-‬18 ESV

Hannah couldn’t speak, she was so burdened and the only One she could turn to was God.
She knew something that so many of us don’t know today.
She knew her hiding place.

Wednesday night as I prayed, I suddenly was just overwhelmed with God’s goodness.
I was just so grateful that He has ALWAYS been there.
Every time I called.
Every time I ran into Him as my hiding place, He has never withheld Himself from me.

What Hannah did all those years ago has been a saving grace for me more times than I can count this year.
When I am hurt, I run to my hiding place.
When I am sad, I run to my hiding place.
When I feel so much pain, I cannot even put it into words, I run to my hiding place.

I was speaking to a sister of mine and we were talking about how there is no need to get mad at God and feign quarrels with Him.
Because, who else do we have?
Who else can we run to?
Who else is our hiding place?

I don’t know who out there is burdened and weary and in pain and tears…
But I guess what God wants me to share with you is that He is your hiding place.
When you feel like you can’t survive the world out there and your heart is breaking, you almost want to give up beneath the weight of it all… RUN TO OUR HIDING PLACE.

Let God be your first port of call.
Do what Hannah did all those years ago. Rise up and go pour out your heart to God.

I can’t explain how much this has been of help to me this year.
Sometimes I have sat before God in prayer and the only thing that would come out is tears.
I have sat before Him before with my heart so burdened, I could only ask the Spirit to pray it out for me in tongues. And every time when I ran to my hiding place, I have come out with my countenance lifted up like Hannah’s.
I may not have gotten what I wanted immediately, but there is a way He pours out times of refreshing and rest upon me in that time of me just leaning into Him.

God is my best friend and like I did on Wednesday night, I am so thankful that He is always there.
And He is there for you too.

Prayer is a life skill, a very valuable one. And so is the art of knowing who your hiding place is and running into Him every time you need Him.
He will fill you with times of refreshing.
He will rejoice over you with singing and sing His love over you.
You will feel His arms wrapped around you and He will give you strength to live through each day.

Our Lord… our hiding place is always there for us.
Have worries? Run to Him.
Have trials? Run to Him.
Joy filled? Run to Him.
Our Hiding place awaits… with arms open wide, ALWAYS.

Prayer:
Father I thank you that you always hear and hearken to my cry.
You are my hiding place. No one else but you God, no one else.
Thank you for always, always being there for me.
For never leaving me lonely.
In you I find rest. In you my soul rejoices.
I love you Lord.
Till our next Online Bible study,
Love and light,
Frances.

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