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Back when we lived in Brazil and our kids were toddlers, we used to play "Big Bear" (a hide-and-seek game) which Claudia and David loved.
Here's how it went - At night, we’d turn off all the lights in the house. We'd even close the shutters on the windows so we wouldn't pick up anything from the street lamps. Then, surrounded by darkness, the kids would hide.
At this point, Big Bear (aka yours truly) would search for the little ones. Basically, I’d tromp around the house for a bit making loud observations. . . "Big bear is sooooo hungry!" "Big bear smells food!" "Ahhh, there's nothing so tasty as young humans." I'd growl and snarl in between the pronouncements.
The kids, by the way, were really bad at hiding. I mean, they could be heard stifling giggles and squirming around in their hiding places, usually under a bed or behind a piece of furniture.
When I found them, I'd grab them and start tickling them. We always had a great laugh. My children knew my heart. They knew their father loved them. They knew, no matter the elaborate Big Bear production, they were safe with me.
They also knew that there was no hiding from Big Bear. . .ahem. . .me, their dad.
As adults, we get better and better at hiding. Not under beds or behind furniture, but more likely, behind a highly curated social media
image or carefully manicured presentation of the self we want others to see.
God isn't fooled. He doesn't buy our press releases. There is absolutely no hiding from the Father. He knows us. He sees us. And. . .this is really good news. We know his heart. We know he is kind and good. We know he loves us deeply.
Today, enjoy his presence. He is close at hand. As David penned in Psalm 139.7-12 - I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.