Peek-a-Boo

Bible Reading: Psalm 13; 145:18; Isaiah 41:10

Gibson hid behind the pink striped blanket for a couple of seconds and then dropped it. “Peek-a-boo!” Baby Nora laughed and clapped her chubby hands. They played the peek-a-boo game over and over again. Gibson loved to hear his little sister laugh.

Dad smiled. “You are teaching Nora an important lesson with that game.”

“I am?” said Gibson. “What am I teaching her?”

“You’re teaching her that even when she can’t see you, you’re still there,” said Dad.

Nora pushed the blanket toward Gibson, wanting him to play again. Gibson held the blanket up and then dropped it. “Peek-a-boo!” he said. Nora laughed.

“It’s a good lesson for us too,” said Dad.

“What do you mean?” asked Gibson.

“Remember how you felt when Grandpa died?” said Dad. “And when Max moved away?”

Gibson thought for a minute. Those had been really difficult times. When his best friend moved to another school, Gibson felt very alone. And when his grandpa died, Gibson felt like God was really far away.

“Maybe your game of peek-a-boo with Nora can help us remember that even when we can’t see or feel God, we can know that He is still there.”

“Do you think everyone has days when they feel like God isn’t there?” asked Gibson.

“Yes, I think so,” said Dad. “In the Bible, even King David felt like God was far away at times. In Psalm 13, David asked God, ‘How long will You hide Your face from me?’”

“That sounds just like my game of peek-a-boo with Nora,” said Gibson.

“It does,” said Dad. “Then, in Psalm 145, David remembers what is true and writes, “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him.”

“Oh yeah,” said Gibson. “Like how Nora is remembering that even if she can’t see me, I’m still there too.”

Dad nodded. “Like King David, we may feel like God is far away sometimes too, but feeling that way doesn’t make it true. God sent His own Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so we could be His children, and He won’t ever abandon us. He’s there with us in good times and bad, whether we feel it or not.”

Gibson smiled as he held up the blanket for his sister again and then let it fall. “Peek-a-boo!”

-Kate Rietema

How About You?

Do you ever feel alone? Or like God is really far away? It’s okay if you do. When you feel that way, tell God—just like King David did. Then ask Him to help you remember that He is near. He loves you so much He sent Jesus to save you, and He knows what you’re going through. Trust Him to always be with you, even when you don’t feel it.

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 145:18 (NKJV) The Lord is near to all who call upon Him.

Today’s Key Thought:

God is always near