Hidden

by Deanna Etienne. Used by permission.

What do you see? Water? Rocks? Sunlight? Do you see the frog? God made this frog this color, and shiny - like the water he lives in, to hide him from predators. Even though he is hidden from predators, he isn't out of God's sight.

After Cain killed Abel, God sent him away. Cain was afraid that he'd be hidden from God's view. Genesis 4:13 - 15 (NIV) says "Cain said to the LORD, 'My punishment is more than I can bear.....I will be hidden from your presence'. But the LORD said to him, 'Not so...'"

1 Samuel 2:3 (CEV) says: Nothing is hidden from the LORD... Job 26:6 (CEV) says: Nothing in that land.... is hidden from God...Psalm 33:15 (CEV) says "The LORD gave us each a mind, and nothing we do can be hidden from him." Psalm 38:9 (ESV) says O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you.

This is a recurring theme. Nothing is away from God's reach. Nothing can be hidden. God knows where we are. God knows what we do. God knows what we long for. And, you know, that's ok. Because God loves us. He knows and sees and watches because He loves us. He protects us from things we do not even know are there to harm us. He provides for us, even when we don't know we have a need. He has a plan and works that plan. No amount of our hiding, sinning, planning can derail His plans. No amount of evil committed by ourselves or others can cause God's plans to be thwarted or stalled or messed up. No amount of preparation to stop, or cause, an event can change what God has planned.

The frog knows it....well, he doesn't KNOW it. But he isn't worried about it. He allowed his picture to be taken out in the open, away from the protection of the water and the rocks. He trusts that his protection - which came from God (the coloring, the shimmering) - is enough to protect him at this moment. And he feels safe enough with that to enjoy the sun.

God, our Sustainer, thank you for being our Protector and Sustainer. Forgive our distrust evident in our fear. Your Presence warms me like the sun. Amen.

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