Deuteronomy 31:17-18 – On that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and difficulties will come upon them, and on that day they will ask, "Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?" And I will certainly hide my face on that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. (NIV)

My granddaughters love to play hide-and-go-seek. They will spend hours at it, if I am willing to play with them. When it is my turn to seek them out, I discover their hiding spots quickly.

When it is my turn to hide, however, it often takes them a long time to rout me. Sometimes, they don't find me. I just appear before them, and they jump up and down demanding where I was. I leave them in a quandary, though, keeping my hiding place a secret for another day.

Sometimes, we, too, are in a quandary. We are perplexed over things that we see happening in our world and in our lives. We wonder: is God hiding from us? Much like the Israelites, we ask, "Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is not with us?" It's a very valid question in light of the state of world affairs, as well as the continuing decline within the church.

We live in a day and age when the truth of Scripture is distorted to come into line with the desires of sinful man. We want what we want, and if God is not going to agree with what we want, then we will twist His Word to make it say what we think and want it to say. In light of this, is it any wonder that the world and the church are in a quandary, and that various disasters strike almost daily? For when we hide our faces from God, God, in turn, eventually hides His face from us.

So, amidst this quandary, for those who seek, what shall we do to find our God?

Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV)

1 Thessalonians 4:11a,12a – Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business … so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders. (NIV)

1 Peter 3:15a – But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (NIV)

Seek and you will find. (Matthew 7:7 NIV)

Prayer: Father God, may we continue to find You as we seek to apply the truth of Your Word and the living Christ to our hearts and to the actions of our daily lives. In Christ's name, we ask. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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