In Plain Sight

“HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT”

Sometimes the best hiding place is in plain sight—a place where no one would expect to find you.

I was awakened recently with the idea of being HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT. Sometimes we need a place to hide, a refuge, a cleft in the rock, or a shadow under which to abide. Yet sometimes in these moments of needing to be hidden, we really desire to be seen. We run and hide because life and its battles, trials, temptations, struggles, and hardships can drive us into hiding. We hide, while also desiring to be seen by God.

Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word (Psalm 119:114). We have a strong tower and hiding place in Jesus. We have an escape route, a path leading to shelter and safety.

As Jesus was gathering His disciples together, we find the story of Nathanael being called by Jesus. This future disciple was seen by Jesus while he was “under the fig tree.”

Scripture is unclear about what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree. It is probable he was accustomed to retreating under a certain fig tree for prayer. The Jews of Jesus’ day were known to make a habit of selecting such a place as this for private devotion. Jesus Himself was known to resort to a garden or solitary place to pray.

Likely, Nathanael was in the midst of his own private prayer under the fig tree. The reason we do not know what was said or done is that it was private, between him and God. He retreated to his secret place under the fig tree to privately pray, hidden from everyone else. After all, you don’t blab the secrets of your heart in the middle of the town square.

Nathanael was alone with God. No one else would have known what was said there. Yet Jesus saw Nathanael in his secret place. That was enough for him to know Jesus was God! Only God would have seen him in that hiding place. Nathanael, under the fig tree emptying his heart out to the Lord, might have been hidden from everyone else, but He was not hidden from God. You could say that he was HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT!

We have a promise that when we pray in secret, our Father hears and sees us (Matthew 6:6). When we enter into our secret places, we are never alone. We might be hidden from everyone else, but Jesus sees us.

Prayer warrior, you are HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT! God sees you while you are on your deck with your morning coffee, kneeling at the edge of your bed in the late-night watches, falling on your face crying out unto him, sitting at your desk head down in your hands, laying prostrate before Him at the altar when no one else is around.

You are not hidden from God. You might feel as if no one sees, but in that hiding place, under your fig tree, you are HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT. Jesus sees! In fact, He is actively seeking you!

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him (II Chronicles 16:9a).

Under your fig tree, HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, while you turn your heart unto God, He finds you. He will show Himself strong on your behalf. He’s got you. He’s in control of what seems to be out of control. So keep praying!

You are HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT, right under the watchful eyes of Jesus!

WNOP
Information from: Prayer Connect Newsletter