For some reason the word “hidden” doesn’t seem as harsh as the word “unseen” to me. Merriam-Webster defines them this way:
- Unseen – not seen or perceived
- Hidden – being out of sight or not readily apparent
There have been times in my life where I have felt unseen. Being the last one picked for a team at recess, not being included in certain groups of people, or just feeling overlooked as everyone else seems to be moving along the fast track.
Consider the story of David in the Bible. When The Lord told Samuel to go to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king, David’s own father didn’t even think to invite him to the selection party. Even Samuel was taken by some of David’s brothers. Finally, after seven of Jesse’s sons had passed in front of Samuel without being chosen by the Lord, Samuel asked if these were all of the sons. Jesse remembered David out in the fields and he was called in.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
I Samuel 16:7b
God’s vision is impeccable and His timing is intentional.
Even after David was anointed privately by Samuel to be the next king there was a long season before he was anointed publicly to be king. David had many opportunities to force the kingship but he waited for the Lord’s timing to step into it.
When the Lord puts dreams into our hearts and confirms them over and over again it is difficult not to expect things to happen right away.
Consider the story in Genesis of the dreamer Joseph. He was given a dream but there was much difficulty and many years before the unfolding of the dream. After being sold into slavery, wrongly accused and imprisoned Joseph tried his best to forget about the dream.
“Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, ‘It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.’ The second son he named Ephraim and said, ‘It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.'”
Genesis 41:51-52
As much as we want to hurry God’s plans or forget all about them in the suffering of life, the Lord’s purposes will prevail. As we live a life submitted to the Lord, He will fulfill His promises to us in His appointed time.
As I am waiting for some promises of the Lord to be fulfilled in my life, I am choosing to believe that He is at work and has not forgotten me. I am not unseen by Him. He may be hiding me for a season but seasons change. A tulip bulb has the DNA of a fully bloomed tulip within it when that bulb is planted down deep but it has a lot of hidden time underground. The tulip is unnoticed until that little bit of green shoots up suddenly from the ground. When it begins to bloom after a cold, dark and hidden season it is a beautiful sight to behold.
- At just the right time, Joseph was tested and then positioned to provide – for God’s chosen people.
- At just the right time, God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and gave him the plans of deliverance – for God’s chosen people.
- At just the right time, Esther was chosen to be queen – for such a time as this and for God’s chosen people.
- At just the right time, Saul was stopped in his tracks to be transformed into Paul who would bring the light of Jesus – to God’s chosen people.
- At just the right time, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us to make a way to the Father – for God’s chosen people.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”
I Peter 2:9
Because the Lord has called each of us out of darkness, let us not allow the enemy to whisper in our ears anymore that we are unseen by the Lord. We may have seasons of hiddenness but we are NEVER unseen by Him and never without purpose. The Lord saw David as king even when he was a lonely, lowly shepherd.
In the hidden seasons may our eyes be open to things not seen, may our senses be revived with new clarity, may our hearts be circumcised to be sensitive to what moves the Lord’s heart, and may we be teachable and walk in humility.
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:2-3
May the hidden seasons help us grow in our prayer lives.
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
May the hidden seasons teach us to remember in the dark what the Lord spoke to us in the light, trusting that He is at work and will reveal what lies in darkness at His appointed time. His timing is neither too early nor too late.
“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.”
Psalm 17:8
Genesis 16 tells the story of a woman who tried her best to be unseen. Hagar ran away from Abraham and Sarah in the midst of a very difficult scenario but an angel of the Lord appeared to her in the desert where she had fled. The angel spoke the Lord’s words to her and gave her hope and direction. Even when we try to hide, we are not unseen by the Lord.
“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.'”
Genesis 16:13
Lord, open our eyes to the things unseen, whether You are hiding us or we are trying to hide. Prepare us. Train us. Teach us to believe what you say no matter what we see or where we are. But let us not get too comfortable with being hidden that we miss the delight and beckoning of the first sign of Spring.
“See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”
Isaiah 42:9
Do we see what He sees?
