Scripture Reading:
“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
—Psalm 32:7 (NIV)
Reflection:
Hiding often starts young. We learn to cover up what might bring punishment, judgment, or rejection. Over time, these instincts mature into psychological structures—ways of thinking and believing that convince us we must manage how much of ourselves we reveal. Especially in the wake of addiction, infidelity, or betrayal, secrecy masquerades as love: “I’m protecting them.” But beneath that noble-sounding excuse often lies fear—fear of rejection, of shame, of losing the good we still long to preserve.
We build internal systems—rules, justifications, and defenses—that seem to keep us safe. “If I admit this, they’ll leave.” “If I show weakness, I’ll lose control.” “If they really knew me, they couldn’t love me.” But these beliefs are not built on rock. They are built on fear, not truth. And fear is a liar. In hiding, we become our own savior—managing, curating, and deceiving in hopes of holding everything together. But we are not good saviors. Eventually, the weight of our secrets begins to crush the very relationships we’re trying to preserve.
Psalm 32 is a song of deliverance, written by someone who had lived the crushing weight of concealment. David says earlier in the psalm, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away… For day and night your hand was heavy on me” (v. 3–4). The relief came not through more secrecy, but through surrender. When he confessed, when he stopped playing savior, grace flooded in.
Jesus offers a better hiding place. Not one of secrecy, but of safety. Not one of self-salvation, but real deliverance. When we are exposed and still beloved—this is where healing begins. This is where shame begins to unravel and trust begins to regrow. He is not only a better Savior for us—He is a better Savior for our marriages, our families, and our stories.
If you’ve been hiding, ask gently: What am I protecting? What belief is driving this secrecy? And then, ask with hope: Is Jesus enough here? Is He trustworthy enough to hold this truth, to carry this burden, to restore what has been broken?
Because He is. He really is.
Practice:
Take 10 quiet minutes. Ask God to show you one belief beneath your hiding—something you’ve told yourself that makes secrecy feel necessary. Write it down. Then write a counter-belief that aligns with the gospel. For example:
- False belief: “If I tell the truth, I’ll lose everything.”
- Gospel truth: “Even if telling the truth costs me, Jesus holds my future. Honesty is the first step to freedom.”
Let this be your prayer today.
Prayer:
Jesus,
You see every shadow in me and do not flinch.
You know what I’ve hidden—not just from others, but even from myself.
Still, You call me to come into the light—not to shame me, but to heal me.
Teach me to trust You more than I trust my own defenses.
Help me untangle the false beliefs that make secrecy feel safe.
Show me how much better You are as my Savior than I could ever be.
Thank You for being a hiding place where I can finally rest without pretending.
Amen.
