The
Becca Bowen
My
daughter recently cleaned out her room. I mean, she really cleaned it out,
down to the organizing of every drawer and basket. She decided to get rid of
one old dresser — one that has a small drawer at the very top - too small for
clothes - it became her "hiding place". She had kept all those
little things she wanted no one else to see! A valentine from her first crush
in elementary school; a note passed by a guy she liked in the 7th grade;
other stuff that of course I can't tell you about because they were
essentially her secrets. I hope they were all secrets that make her smile and
that she did not stash away any that make her feel guilty.
A long time ago a guy named David told God, "You are my hiding
place - you take care of me when I'm in trouble." In this prayer
poem David says that when he kept silent about his sin with God, his body
"wasted away"? and he was drained of his
energy like the "fever of the summer". The same is true for us. The stress of carrying around guilt drains us and wastes
our bodies away. It can literally make us sick.
If you are carrying heavy feelings around and feel drained, consider
whether the stress is feelings of guilt. Don't be silent to God. He wants
so much to forgive us and surround us when we're in trouble. God wants to
be our hiding place.