Hidden Hope

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Psalm‬ ‭32:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our chickens began laying eggs a few weeks ago. The first egg caught us all by surprise. We did not anticipate eggs for a couple more months. One morning, I noticed our biggest hen, Lily acting somewhat peculiar. She was much more vocal and pacing back and forth from the coup to the run. I peeked inside the coup and hidden in the pine shavings, lay a beautiful brown egg.

Since than, each day one child or another will go out back to the coup with hope-filled anticipation to find one or two light to dark brown or even a pale green egg (from Tulip our Americana, AKA our “Easter egger”), hidden in a nesting box. Each time, we still find ourselves pleasantly surprised. Each egg is celebrated, gently cupped and carried inside with reverence. I am sure the excitement will wane over time. Although I do hope a spark of joy and a glimmer of hope remains in the finding and receiving of this small yet rich gift.

Our growing supply of fresh eggs is a daily reminder for me to look for rich gifts from God found in hidden places. In the nooks and crannies of a hectic morning, an average afternoon and the mundane daily tasks and errands. Between the rock and the hard place in relationships. In the waiting for day break and in the dark and restless nights. Evidence of His love surrounds us. His hope hiding in the most unlikely places.

With fresh eyes, I am beginning to see a hope that is invisible to the unaware eye. Between the rock and the hard place of waiting, my heart is adjusting to a new way of seeing. I am paying closer attention, becoming more aware of God’s finger prints, His gentle whispers and His hidden love notes that constantly surrounded us. His love and tender care, tucked in every nook and cranny of our life.

My heart yearns every day for our daughter in Bulgaria. I often wonder when our wait will end and we will finally welcome our long hoped for child home. Even so, I am finding peace, my hope resting more and more in Jesus. Just as he surrounds and covers me, I know He is doing the same for our daughter. He hides her in His love. She is seen and known by her Maker. Her Heavenly Father has not forgotten nor forsaken her.

On an average, unsuspecting day, our hopes will come to fruition. We will finally receive the long awaited phone call. Tucked in a long distance email, we will first lay eyes on our daughter. Beholding this rich gift with eyes that see beyond skin deep. Deep into a beautiful heart that was fearfully and wonderfully made for our family. Woven together in a secret, unseen place by the One who still sees, holds and carries her.

We wait, daily taking hold of this hidden, unseen hope. Placing our faith in the One who sees and holds our weary hearts. We trust that in His perfect time, He will cup her in His loving embrace and gently carry her home to us.

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans‬ ‭8:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord Jesus,
You never grow weary. You are with us in our everyday struggles, our brokenness and our battles. You are protecting us and providing for us in big, small and unseen ways. Every last detail is held and sifted through your loving hands.

Today, I will place my hope in you for you never change, never waver, never stop loving, never stop fighting for us. You are always faithful and you are making a way.

“Your Kingdom come. Your will be done.
On earth as it is in Heaven.”

“For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, Forever, Amen.”
(Matt. 6:9-10; 6:13)

Additional verses that inspired this post:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14:16-19‬ ‭NIV‬‬