Closer Than NearbySampel

NOW YOU SEE ME

Another common theme found in love songs is the feeling that the lovers are the only ones who truly see each other for who they are. People who are in love spend hours looking into each other’s eyes. And happy endings to romantic comedies are often sparked when the reluctant party realizes that their lover is the only person who sees who they really are and still wants to be with them. David experiences this same kind of affection during his intimate moment with God.

In Psalm 139:11-12, David sings about a moment when he realizes that God sees everything about him and still loves him anyway. “‘I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night - but even in darkness I cannot hide from you" (NLT). The fact that God has seen every moment of his life and still cares about him is overwhelming to David. “‘You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book’” (v. 15-16). Even the darkest moments of David’s life are not hidden from God.

The idea of hiding our flaws has been an intimacy killer since the days of Adam and Eve. Their instinctive reaction after encountering sin was to hide. “So they hid from the Lord among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked" (Genesis 3:8-10, NLT). The fear of having our flaws exposed has come between God and us ever since.

Do you often try to hide your flaws from people who love you? How does it make you feel when you need to admit a fault or failure?

In 1 John 4:18, we find the root of our problem. “If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love” (NLT). When we start grasping the unconditional love of God, we can bring ourselves completely into his presence. Jesus Christ came to save, not to condemn (John 3:17).

Let us respond to God’s love confession by coming out of hiding. Let us experience intimacy with God without any restraint or shame. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16, NLT)