When days are challenging, when moments are overwhelming, God asks me to hide in Him, not escape in lesser things.

Like a little child He asks me not to venture away from Him, out of His sight, but to stay close.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4

My avenues of escape include things like Netflix, food, Instagram or my own efforts (a.k.a control). These are places in which I’m tempted to hide from difficult things. These are paths I choose to run away from discouraging or confusing circumstances. These things sometimes feel easier to turn to when shame or doubt creep in. (Why does it seem to take more effort to believe God’s words for us instead of our own?)

He asks me to hide in Him, not from Him. Especially when I make a mistake or struggle or have a wrong attitude or sin.

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He asks me to be still and meditate on how He’s God and I am not.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble… He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:1, 10 NIV

He asks me to tell Him everything. (Yes. All. The. Things.)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Philippians 4:6 NLT

He asks me to surrender where I feel weak.

Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NASB

He asks me to remember how much He loves me.

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins…. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

1 John 4:10, 15-16 NIV

He asks me to believe and obey.

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13-16 NIV

He asks me to stay with Him.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 91:1-2 NIV

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He asks me not to hide in the pit of Netflix or self-sufficiency or social media. He asks me not to turn away from Him. He asks me not to doubt His nature. He asks me not to shrink back into my idols but to stand (shaky or not) on the Rock who can bear all of me.

He says, Child, hang close to Me when things are challenging. Let my Light remove all the shadows. Be yourself with Me. Come and be filled (John 6). Don’t retreat to that which harms instead of helps.

A survival technique has surfaced in these first two months of motherhood: abiding in Christ, openly and honestly, is essential to any kind of flourishing.

I can’t speak for you, but no matter how often I venture out from underneath His wings, Jesus will always be my home. I’ll never choose perfectly, but there’s grace for that. So here is to the practice of not hiding but standing in His light and on His love.

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 NASB