Resolutions: Where are you hiding?

I don’t typically love resolutions. I think a lot of my feelings towards them stem from knowing reality: will they stand against life? Most times, they don’t for me. I may get through a few months, but nothing quite lasts the longevity of the year. So, the past three years, I’ve prayed for a word or phrase to express what I want to walk into that year. As the New Year approached, I began to ask God what He wanted for me this next season, and as clear as day, I heard Him say, “It’s time to come out of hiding.”

I’m not gonna lie. No matter if it’s a resolution or a word from God, there’s a tinge of fear as I declare them over myself. I start to worry because I know how long a year can be and all the chaos that can be thrown in. And I know me. I know just how weak I can be and all the times I’ve tried and failed.
 
But you know what I tend to forget to weave into the equation between reality and the desires of God’s heart for me? I may somewhat know the tendencies of life. I may know the tendencies of me. But, do I know the tendencies of God? Do I actually breathe in the knowledge of God as I let out my proclamation of newness?

I’ve been thinking a lot about Adam and Eve lately. There’s a part of their story that is so interesting to me.

“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, Where are you?

He said, I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.
 
And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” - Genesis 3:8-12 AMP

Adam and Eve knew God. They knew His tendencies. They knew His character. Yet, when they messed up, suddenly their perspective of His goodness shifted and the identity that covered them was tainted by their mistake. You see, God knew what they did, and yet He still walked in the garden to see them. I find it interesting that He asked, “Where are you?” Just at the sound of God, Adam feared what’s to come because he suddenly was all too aware of his mess and felt he wasn’t covered. So he hid. Where are you hiding because of what you think you are?

Sweet friends, where we position ourselves matters. Are we positioning ourselves to receive the goodness of God this year or are we hiding from Him out of fear and shame?  It matters that we know who God is because if we know the kind of God He is, then we know that no matter the tinge of fear that new seasons and new years may bring, we’re covered in the blessings of God.

There’s a song by Bethel that just came out called Goodness of God. Jenn Johnson sings it, and she proclaims something so powerful in this song. She sings: “Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me”. Do you believe that? I think if we really inhaled the truth of who God is and let out a deep sigh of knowing He’s with us every single step of this year, every moment we’ve walked, and every forward movement we make, then we wouldn’t feel inclined to hide. No matter the mistakes we make. No matter the chaos that life brings. No matter the expectations unmet. If we were to make every declaration of improvement linked to the knowledge of God, we would know we’re moving forward with every ounce of hope and promise woven in our steps. So even when forward brings messiness, we won’t hide in fear, we won’t hide in shame, we won’t run away in distrust of our identity, we will keep walking with God because the truth of who He is covers every inch of us.
 
As we listen to Him for what this next season holds, as we declare His heart over us this year, as we begin to step into newness, I beg you to ask yourself, “Where am I hiding?”

We weren’t made to be children who hide. We are destined to be captivated by His goodness.

“So why would I fear the future? For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life.” -Psalm 23:6

Author | Emily Goldin