REFOCUS
Begin with prayer to refocus your thoughts. In the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer begin by recalling the names of God as vehicles of praise. Use at least five, pausing between them to take in their meaning.
For example you might pray, “Thank you Lord that you are my Shepherd, my Great Physician, my Rock and my Hiding Place.”
READ
Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.
Psalm 27:5
You are my hiding place;
You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7
. . . in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Colossians 3:2-4
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
REFLECT
The Exam
Mildred Smith, a former schoolteacher, was a resident at the nursing home where I worked. She was in relatively good health physically, but sadly, her mental abilities had been waning for several years. Since our goal was to slow her decline, we kept track of how she was doing with what is known as a “Mini-Mental Status Exam.”
Every other month she met with a social worker who asked her a set of questions and gave her tasks to complete. At first, they were reasonably easy (her name, the day and date, the season of the year, who the president was). Then they would progressively become more complex (for example, counting back from 100 by sevens).
On a bright sunny day, Mildred was wheeled into my office. We began the exam with her name, which with a bit of hesitation, she recounted. The next few questions were met with longer pauses and an increasingly frustrated look. It was clear she was struggling. I moved on to the next question.
“Mildred,” I asked, “what season of the year is it?” At this, she slammed her hand down and the table and let out an expletive.
“What’s the matter, Mrs. Smith?” I asked tenderly.
She furrowed her brow, gave me a fiery look, then spat back: “If you had told me there was going to be a test, I would have studied!”
It’s easy to understand Mildred’s frustration. Try as she might, she could not cover what was an embarrassing fact for her – she was losing her ability to remember and to think as she once did. Her life had been built around her ability to think clearly. It was frightening and sad for her to realize that she was no longer as sharp as she had once been. When the test exposed her loss, her grief and fear turned to anger and blame.
No matter our age or abilities, it is sobering to admit that life is filled with losses. Some, like Mrs. Smiths’ exam, might be lessened by preparation. But many come on us unexpectedly at times and in ways we are not expecting. Depending on the type of loss, it can leave us scrambling to protect our dignity, stuff, or even our very lives. As we search for a way to hide our lack, we may be overcome with fear, shame, blame, or anger.
But there is another way. Consider the case of Mrs. Elisabeth Elliot. A lifetime missionary, famous speaker, and a prayer warrior, “Ms. Elliot” was now also losing her mental faculties. One Thanksgiving, she attended her family’s holiday meal. After dinner, it came time for dessert. One of the great-grandchildren was sent to ask her what flavor of ice cream she wished.
“Ms. Elisabeth,” they asked, “Would you like chocolate or vanilla ice cream?” The question proved too much for the elderly saint to take in. She simply could not remember the various flavors. At first, she looked perplexed. “Well, I’m not quite sure I know…” Then she continued with a confident dignity “But I’ve found that when I don’t know, it’s always best to pray about it.”
In her time of need, Ms. Elliot found no need for fear or sadness, anger or blame. She had spent a life understanding her limits and trusting in God to supply the difference. Now, at the end of life, it was a natural reaction to turn to Him – even in the smallest things.
When the Bible speaks of having a life that is “hidden in God,” this is part of what it means. He becomes our shelter in times of loss. David used it with enemies on his heels. Paul stood on it to reassure Christians of their eternal security. And though it may seem a small thing, Elisabeth used it that Thanksgiving Day to battle her failing memory.
To be “hidden” means that we find that we can admit from the very start that we are not smart enough, fast enough, or holy enough to escape life’s losses. Our confidence, whether threatened by a faulty memory or an enemy attack, is rooted in Him.
When our best efforts are not enough, choosing Him as our security gives us the strength to say, “I don’t know.” It keeps us from being ruled by our negative emotions. It provides a place to turn where we can feel safe.
There is a quiet confidence for one whose knowledge is not based in their own learning, whose safety is not grounded in their own strength or whose future is not secured by their bank account or portfolio.
In fact, the only concrete preparation that will leave us secure is the practice of hiding ourselves in Him. Practice it today to prepare for tomorrow.
RESPOND
Questions to Consider
- As you look over the losses in your life, what do you see your security was placed in?
- In what ways is your security placed in God?
- In what other ways do you seek to remain “safe”?
(For example, through your abilities, your possessions or in the opinions of other people?)
Prayer
Eternal God, You are my “hiding place.” Let the losses of this life drive me deeper into your hands and under your wings. Keep me from the illusion of safety in earthly things. When all things temporal fail, let me be found trusting in You, who holds all things. Amen.
Blessings,
Rev. James R. Needham, PhD, MDiv