When I was a child, one of my favorite games was hide and seek. It was fun to try to find the best hiding place and get creative with new places to hide. Somehow though, it seems I never enjoyed being the seeker. Seeking all the hiders was work and sometimes I got frustrated when I could not find the people I was looking for. As an adult, I enjoyed playing hide and seek with my children. Many times when they were seeking, I would hide in a place where they could find me with just enough effort. As they grew older, I found that I could hide in harder spots because they had learned how to seek.
God is our loving Father. Sometimes God too likes to play hide and seek. His desire is that we seek Him. “The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. ” (Psalm 14:2, NIV84) When we seek God, we become attentive to God and focused on God. Seeking God works good in our lives. “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. ” (Luke 12:31, NIV84)
Sometimes when we seek, it seems that we cannot find God. This happened to Job. “”But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. ” (Job 23:8–9, NIV84) The key in this situation is to never quit seeking.
God promises to be found by those who seek. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV84) However the condition is to seek God with ALL of our hearts. Seeking with all that is in us means longing, yearning, desiring God above everything. Seeking God means there is a desperation in our lives that we must find God or we will die. “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ” (Psalm 63:1, NIV84)
Job was struggling. He was searching for God and he could not find God. Everywhere Job turned he saw loss, pain, hurt, despair, frustration. He could not find God. Yet Job kept looking. Job understood that God would not let him seek without finding forever just as a loving Father eventually comes our of hiding so the anxious child can find him. Job entrusted himself to God whom he could not find. “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. ” (Job 23:10, NIV84)
Job kept seeking. “My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. ” (Job 23:11–12, NIV84)
If you need answers, seek God like Job did. Follow the footsteps of God. Obey fully and from your heart the commands of God. Treasure God’s Word. Spend time with God’s Word. You will find God. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV84)
“My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. ” (Psalm 27:8, NIV84)
