Childhood Games

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 

2 Peter 3:9

Recent events in my life have caused me to compare my situation to the childhood games that I played growing up.  Two of those games were “TAG” and “Hide & Seek”.  The object of TAG is to run away from the home base, avoid being tagged by the designated chaser, and return to the home base safely.  With Hide & Seek, you simply find a good hiding place so that you are not found by the designated seeker.

I know you are probably wondering why these memories came to my mind.  Honestly, I feel like I have been in a constant game of TAG since I stopped playing Hide & Seek.  Let me explain.

Last year, I decided to openly share my testimony aloud to a captive audience.  Don’t get me wrong, this was not a coliseum full of participants at some conference.  It was a Pastoral Anniversary to which I had been invited more than once to come and speak.  This time I agreed to come and merely share my testimony.  This was not the platform that I had expected when I began this journey a few years ago.  I have always been more comfortable in the background.  It has never been my desire to draw attention to myself.  I cannot explain how the experience was simultaneously frightening, nerve-wracking, and yet liberating.  I was amazed at how God moved on me and those in the congregation.  I will not soon forget the experience. 

Hide & Seek was the game I had been playing in my spiritual walk.  I was not operating contrary to God’s will, but I was not carrying out His will for my life as He had prescribed.  I was just fine hiding behind these written words where only a few could see me.  It was comfortable and safe.  No one was after me.  No one was trying to refute me.  As long as I stayed hidden, things were relatively easy.  In my mind, I could post something to impact a life or two and that would be fine.  It may have been limited, but I was carrying out my assignment to encourage others.  But the Bible says in 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  I am grateful for His long suffering toward me because I was carrying out my assignment within the parameters that I had set.  I set the limitations because it was easier.  It didn’t cause me to stretch, and I remained hidden because it was safe.

Everything was good until He said, “It’s time.”  I knew that meant it was time to stop hiding behind the computer and expand my reach, which meant more exposure.  It meant removing myself from the cover of my desk and standing in the presence of people who needed to be encouraged.  Written words are one thing, but spoken words often reveal the emotion and trauma behind the message.  I was not sure that I was ready for the exposure.  I was not sure if I was ready to be out in plain sight with nowhere to run or hide.  Then, I remembered 1 Thessalonians 5:24, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” and Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  

This is when I started playing TAG.  You always knew that when you stepped off the base or safe place, you would become the target of the one chasing.  As boldly as I stood in that pulpit on that Sunday, I did not have a clue as to what was about to be unleashed in my life.  I knew that this would be a new level in my faith walk, but I really did not think about the tactics that would be used to try to catch me.  I am shaking my head at myself as I write this.  I know better!  

1 Peter 5:8 tells me to be sober and vigilant because our adversary walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  So long as I stayed in my safe place, the enemy had no need to waste his resources to come after me.  I was doing what he wanted… being quiet. 

However, once I stepped off that base, it was on.  I was playing TAG whether I wanted to or not.  I have been running and dodging and running and swerving so much the past few months that I am amazed that I am still in the game.  BUT GOD!  I am tired, but HIS strength is made perfect in my weakness.  If I can keep making it back to the home base, THE ROCK, I know that I will be safe.   

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”  Psalm 27:5 says, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” 

At one time, I doubted whether this was the mission that I had been given.  Did I just make this all up in my head?  I no longer doubt it.  I am assured that this is what I am supposed to be doing.  It may come slowly, but it’s coming one way or another.   I am trusting God to keep me as I continue to carry out my marching orders.  There will be attacks and there will be trials, but I do not have to be in despair. 

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”

This means that it may get hard, but we will not be destroyed.  We can count on God to be there with us and to carry us through.  When we make up our minds to follow Him and share His gospel, He will work in us and through us by His power to save us and those with whom we are witnessing.

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Father, I thank You for Your loving kindness toward me.  Your Mercy is undeniable and Your Grace is unsurpassed. Forgive us Lord when we choose to follow our own way in defiance to what You have instructed. Thank You for Your unfailing Compassion and Great Faithfulness towards us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.