Psalm 32:7 (NJKV) says, "You are my hiding place: You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance."
When we are seeking the healing of our broken hearts one of the best approaches we can take is to hide. Hide from our troubles? Hide from our friends? Hide from our family? Hide from our community? No, we hide in God, our heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus, who wants us to hide in Him.
Many of us are great at hiding and running from our problems. I've been guilty of this myself from time to time. Yet, only by hiding in Jesus, who is God's Son, do we find relief and the strength to go on. When we hide ourselves in Jesus, God's Son, we are deciding that we can't face our challenges or heal alone. We are deciding, right then and there, that we can't and must not try to go on alone, whatever journey of brokenness we are experiencing.
The holy book called the Bible gives us wisdom that is for all people and all situations. As Indigenous people in Canada, the United States and other parts of the world, we have all gone through many genocides and hard times and abuse, but Jesus is standing at the door saying, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, NKJV)
The part of the Bible that is called the Old Testament, where a book called Psalms is found, tells us to hide ourselves in God, because He knew our lives would be filled with troubles and sorrows. Jesus, our spiritual High Chief and Priest in the New Testament lived in an earthly body for 33 years and knows what it's like to suffer and have pain in our hearts and bodies. We can come to Jesus, hide in Him and find relief from our broken hearts.
Many of you live on Reserves, in small villages, First Nations communities, bands, Metis settlements, isolated communities, prisons, and in the cities-and you are hurting. You are broken. You are suffering in silence. You are hiding from everyone who loves you and wants to support you, because you think life is easier that way.
I am here to say, based on my own experience, that when you are hiding from all those people, you are only hurting yourself. When you can learn to hide in Jesus, then you will be set free and really learn how to live, forgive and heal.
This may mean going to a counselor or specialist or treatment center or support group, but help is out there for whatever pain you have. Run to God's Son, Jesus, and ask Him to hide you in His love. The love of Jesus will change your life. The love of another person alone, will not fill the void inside of you. That empty hole inside of you must be filled by Jesus Himself.
Maybe you are hiding in the act of sleeping around. Maybe you are hiding in alcohol or drugs or gambling. Maybe you are hiding in stealing and deceit and lying or selling drugs. None of these things will bring true happiness and healing and relief. They only create more hurt and more suffering and more hiding.
Hide in the arms of Jesus. Once again, Psalm 32: 7 says, "You are my hiding place: You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance."
Is Jesus your hiding place? In the arms of Jesus, you will find deliverance. What is the current song that describes your life? What do the words say? If you believe in Jesus and He is your deliverance, then what do the words of that song of deliverance say? Why don't you take the time and write your own song of deliverance and share it with as many people as possible?
Here is my song: "Come to Me Parry, who labors and is very heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Thank You, Jesus, I think I will do that. Thank You for caring and loving me so much. Thank You for forgiving me for my sins and giving me a place in heaven when my life on earth is over. Thank You for watching over me with Your power and strength. Thank You for letting me hide in You and find rest. I really needed it. I was lost and hurting and felt like no one cared."
Don't hide within more suffering, hide in the safe arms of Jesus! He will heal that broken heart!
Parry Stelter is a Bible teacher, author and speaker. He is founder of
Word of Hope
Ministries. If you
are interested in
having Parry do
a workshop on
dealing with grief, loss and trauma, you can contact him at parry@wordofhopeministries.ca
