You are my hiding place, you always fill my heart with songs of deliverance. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
Psalm 32:7 NIV
The song fills my heart as it echoes through my memories. Decades have passed since it first lodged there, rote words to speak aloud to the dark. But do I cling to them as truth? Do I believe He is with me that securely?
Do I know what with-ness really means?
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3 NIV
That Holy Thing
by George MacDonald (1824-1905)
They all were looking for a king To slay their foes and lift them high Thou cam'st, a little baby thing That made a woman cry O Son of Man, to right my lot Naught but Thy presence can avail Yet on the road Thy wheels are not, Nor on the sea Thy sail! My how or when Thou wilt not heed, But come down Thine own secret stair, That Thou mayest answer all my need-- Yea, every bygone prayer.
Sometimes, when confusion or pain hits me, I think that hiding in the with-ness of my Savior means that He will remove all questions. But often He does not offer me the hiding that I so desire. The waves still crash, and the torrent still overflows its banks. There are days, all too often, when I look longingly for ways to hide myself.
And yet . . .
My Savior still upholds me, and He meets me in the way that HE knows is best. I can look back over the years and see that He held me under His protection when the trials roared past me. Even when I thought I needed to hide myself away, He found a way to uncover my hiding and bring me into His own protection.
If you have been with me for a while, you may remember a post I shared here, about a Mother’s Intercession Group that I was a part of many years ago. Recently, one of those dear Mothers passed away, and just this last week the memorial service was held for her. Unable to attend, I watched via a live Zoom Call. The Lord met me so vividly as I saw the answers to some of our prayers walking the aisles of that memorial service. I wept as I remembered how broken we had felt when we could not see the way ahead in our prayers. But I bowed before God as I felt His voice thundering over me, alone in my resting chair at home.
I was with you then, I am with you now, and I will be with you tomorrow. Your prayers have not been erased simply because you could not see what they accomplished. I have brought answers, and I will continue to bring answers as you watch me work my Glory in front of you, right where I have purposed you to be.
My body felt like jello and collapsed after that service. Later that night, my Rheumatoid Arthritis went into a heavy flare, and all I could do was lay in bed as the pain waves washed over me. And yet, I remembered His Word to me, and I offered my pain back to Jesus, from within the place of hiding in HIM. For you see, HIS Glory had been my covering through all of the past, and HIS Glory was still my covering now.
The true with-ness of my Lord is to trust that HE will always bring His answer as I wait upon Him. He is the only safe hiding place for us. And the suffering that I may endure as I wait on His answer, will be so small as I look upon the eternal weight of glory when I also step into that Heavenly realm.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:17-18 NIV
On the night that I had planned to share this post, the city nearest to my rural Southeast Wisconsin town, Kenosha, seemed to be going down in smoke. The riots, looting, and burning that had happened to so many other cities across this land had finally reached our area. As I laid in bed and offered my prayers for my neighbors, I drifted in and out of sleep. But every time I was jolted awake with thoughts of fires blazing, I heard the urging of my Lord to recognize something important.
It wasn’t until the next morning that I saw the parallels and identification that I felt: my body blazes in pain during a “flare.” The cities of this world are blazing in pain during these flares of rioting. As I offer my own pain to God, the incense of my prayers is also rising for this generation of aching souls. As I cry out for the mercy of God in my place of burning, the arms of my prayers are being held up for the lost ones around me to find the mercy of God too.
May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141:2 NIV
Have you considered that God may have called you to this season, this place of your confusions and pain, so that you might lift your hands in prayer for those around you as well? God’s purposes may seem hidden from our view, but He is never without a plan, without a “secret stair,” to bring rescue and answers for every aching heart that He is calling.
Will you join me in prayer today?
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your blessed protection in our lives. We are filled with praise when we look back and see the answers that You sent as You cared for us in the past. But we confess that our hearts have felt a quaking with fear again, as today’s torrents roar so loudly around us. We cannot see the ways that You could help us here, and we wonder if we will have to flounder alone seeking out a hiding place. Will You quiet our fears and help us to wait with You today? Help us to rest in YOUR hiding of our hearts. And as we rest in trust, help us to open our eyes to see others who have also been floundering in fear. Help us to lift our prayers as incense now, for our own hearts and the hearts of those around us, to realize that YOU have brought us here for Your purposes. Thank You for the Glory that is yet to come! Thank You that YOU will bring Your answers as we wait now with You.
In Your Sweet name,
Amen.
I am linking with: #RememberMeMonday #GraceAndTruth
BettieGsRAseasons 
Oh Bettie, this is so comforting. It really moved me how even when we are hiding in our Savior, it doesn’t mean that He will answer all our questions. The waves may still roar, but yet He holds us and meets us in the way HE knows best. Yes. In His time. In His way. And this, too, is so encouraging – “God’s purposes may seem hidden from our view, but He is never without a plan, without a “secret stair,” to bring rescue and answers for every aching heart that He is calling.” Thank you for sharing the way God meets you in the way HE knows best. It’s such a testimony to His faithfulness. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend. My heart is heavy, too, for this nation. Lord, have mercy! Love and blessings of strength and courage for each moment!
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Dear Trudy,
I am so very thankful that Jesus brought you comfort here today. Yes, He is so faithful to meet us in the ways that are just right for His good and His purposes in our lives. I pray that we would remember that when the waves feel so high around us. And I join you in praying, “Lord, have mercy!” Our nation needs Him so badly. Thank you dear friend for all of your encouragement and love on this journey. Your prayer for “blessings of strength and courage” touched me so much tonight. Love and hugs and blessings to you too. xoxo
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Amazing work of Our Holy God! Dear Bettie, the imagery here is powerful. I can relate to the hiding in Him but not receiving what you thought. Lately I have just had to be still so that I can hear Him, though life has picked up its pace. And I appreciate you asking us about this time, this season. I loved how God showed you the connection between your RA flare ups and the spiritual opposition raging in our streets. Yes, He is giving me thoughts about revival, praying for the time to share with other leaders. May God grant you rest. I hope you get to see your son on his birthday 🙂 Love, Julie
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Dear Julie,
Thank you for your sweet prayers and comments here. We were able to talk with our son today, which was a treat since he lives in Alaska with his wife and 6 daughters! Our prayers are so full for our children, no matter what age they are, as they travel their own journeys with the Lord! He truly knows how to call us to prayer for this time and season. Blessings to you as you listen for His voice during these days. And, yes, may we all find our rest in Him! Love and prayers for you tonight, dear sister.
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Amen! Sweet sister! To this remembering of being in the battle and the battle won; of when two or three are gathered in His name – it’s done; of honoring a fellow warrior and lover of our Savior; of giving your pain to God as a sacrifice – and pouring your heart, pain and prayers out for a world suffering! Of waiting and trusting that He has it – that He hides us – that He is with us! What a prayer you give us for such a time!
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Dear Maryleigh,
Thank you for your sweet comments and prayers here. Truly He is with us as we gather, even across these digital waves, in HIS name. What precious thoughts: it’s done! Amen all for Jesus. May you feel His presence with you tonight also, and may our prayers be lifted to Him during this heavy season.
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I am thankful we are given opportunity to pray for others. I ask God for healing and guidance for myself and my family. Also, I ask for healing and guidance for others. Sharing time and being with Him allows me to feel His love and presence. Thank you for your beautiful, heartfelt posts.
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Dear Melissa,
Oh, amen, it is such a precious opportunity that we have been given to pray for others. I am so thankful we can pray for each other along this journey. His presence is such a sweet gift for us. Thank you for all of your support and prayers, dear friend. Blessings, love, and hugs for you too.
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I was thinking about this this week as I struggle with multiple bathroom breaks and exhaustion and then had a few good days. I thanked God for being there with me and drawing me closer to him in my suffering. I love that song “You Are My Hiding Place.” I haven’t heard it in years. My parents used to sing it and we learned it at a church we once attended (we stop going because it was a long drive from our house.) Praying for you, for the flares, and for our naation that is in pain.
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Dear Lisa,
Yes, isn’t that such a beautiful song? It has been such a comfort to me over the years too. I am so grateful that the Lord helped you to have a few good days! And I am so thankful that we can pray for each other through these places of suffering. We need His mercy so much! And yes, may the Lord have mercy on our nation.
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My friend, I didn’t think about you being near to Kenosha. We’ve been praying about the situation there. May God come and bring true peace among his people.
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Dear Mandy,
Thank you for your prayers! It has been such a heavy time as I have watched so many cities burning. There was some initial rioting around here back in early June, especially in Chicago where our son’s family lives. But then when it was so widespread these last few days, it hit my heart even more heavily. I join with you in praying for God to “come and bring true peace among His people.”
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Dear Bettie, as I’ve already shared with you, I think your post is so beautiful. You just have a way of connecting things to stir our hearts and always point us back to the love and mercy of Jesus. Thank you for your prayer and your constant reminders to rest in God, knowing that His presence is always with us. Much love with hugs and blessings to you, my dear sister! xoxo
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Dear Gayl,
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement for me, through all of these days! I’m so glad that God connected us and has let us pray for each other across the miles! And, amen, His presence is always with us. May we look up and let Him hold us through all of these heavy times. Love, hugs, and blessings to you too my dear sister. xoxo
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So sorry to hear you’ve had another flare. May the Lord give you relief.
I love that song by Selah and the verse it comes from!
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Thank you for your prayers, Dear Ruth. And yes, isn’t that such a beautiful version of that Scripture Song? It has brought me so much comfort. Blessings to you today!
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Dear Bettie, I love the reassuring words the Lord gave you. They mirror ones spoken over me when I doubted God was as present as I wanted Him to be. This is such a sweet encouragement too: “For you see, HIS Glory had been my covering through all of the past, and HIS Glory was still my covering now.” So often the pain, whether past, present or anticipated in the future, seems to drown out His voice and leave us floundering. But as you reveal via your personal experience and witness to the truth of it, we are very much covered by the with-ness of God, and His glory cloud continually surrounds us like a protective shield even as we battle with adversity. Thank you for pouring out your heart in the beautiful prayer you have offered. Although our nations might differ in what they are currently experiencing, I think we could all use a reminder to turn to our Father God and seek peace in His healing presence. I hope and pray the latest RA flares will lessen and grant you better ease, sleep and rest, my friend. Sending gentle hugs, much love, blessings and prayers. xoxo 💜
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Dear Joy,
Thank you for understanding how the pain “seems to drown out His voice and leave us floundering.” But you are so right that we are covered by Him. I love the way that you expressed this: “His glory cloud continually surrounds us like a protective shield even as we battle with adversity.” It is amazing when He steps in and reminds us of that, isn’t it? I pray that I will keep lifting my heart towards Him, and hear His call to prayer, for those both near and so far away. I surely appreciate your prayers for me over all these many months. Blessings, love, and hugs to you dear friend. xoxo
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Dear Bettie, thank you for sharing this post which correlates in so many ways to what others are experiencing. Love how we were both thinking about finding a hiding place and a refuge in Him. Praying for the people of Kenosha and all those who don’t know the good news. I believe you are right in that God is calling us to intercede for those around us, and thank you for the prayer. Praying for you and your family as well.
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Dear Christina,
Yes, God truly is our refuge and hiding place, even in the midst of all of these heavy days. May we remember to pray for each other, and to cry out in mercy for those who need to heart the Good News. And thank you for your prayers also! Blessings to you!
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What beautiful thoughts! What especially spoke to me was that hiding in the Lord doesn’t necessarily answer all the questions we have about things. We must trust him even if we never get answers! Such a glorious rendition of “You Are My Hiding Place.” The music of Selah is stunning! I got to see them in person in December 2014.
Blessings,
Patti @ Clothed with Joy
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Dear Patti,
Thank you for your lovely comments. Yes, HE is so worthy of our trusting, “even if we never get answers!” I love the music of Selah also. That must have been such a wonderful night to worship with them in person. Blessings to you!
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Dear, precious friend! I read this through tears. It touched me so deeply to think of you suffering so much, to think of how you saw the answers to your and the other mothers’ prayers answered during that funeral services, and to think that Kenosha is so near to you. So much heaviness in my spirit tonight, and I do not know what we would do without our dear Lord to turn to in such troubling times. May He reach you and touch your body and give you relief and also protect you in all that you are facing. Much love to you, my dear sister.
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Dear Cheryl,
Thank you so much for your deep prayers and precious thoughts that you have shared. I agree with you so much, “I don’t know what we would do without our dear Lord to turn to in such troubling times.” It almost feels like my heart will burst sometimes, as I look at the suffering in this world now. But He is still here, and He is still calling us to love and to pray while our time here is so short. May He bring comfort and strength to you and your family as you share His love with so many!
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