01102026 When You Want to Hide

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God, who understands that sometimes all we want to do is disappear when life is too much for us. His words of comfort and reassurance are, “I am with you when you want to run and hide, and I will shelter you.”

There are days when each of us just wants to pull away from life and hide. Maybe we want to pull into our shells like a turtle. Maybe we want to escape to the mountains or the seashore or a deserted island. Regardless of our preferred real or imagined favorite retreat, we probably want to escape the presence of people. We want to be alone, peaceful and quiet, far from the demands, pressures, dangers, and attacks of life. In the midst of our desperation, we simply desire to disappear, and we wish there were a reliable and convenient place where we could be sheltered and secure. God says . . .

“In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” (11:1).

“Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them” (17:7).

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (23:4).

“Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city” (31:21).

“How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (36:7).

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast” (57:1).

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (91:4).

“The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul” (121:5-7).

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me” (138:7).

"If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (139:8-10).

God says, “I know that life can be totally overwhelming and that sometimes you want to escape or hide. I am here for you as your refuge and retreat. I am a place of nurturing, comfort, protection, and safety. In the darkest and most threatening places, I am with you to protect you. I will hold you close under My sheltering wings. I am the best place to shelter when you just want to flee, and I can keep you until the danger has passed. Run to Me and rest in My care.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA