I loved playing hide-and-seek when I was a kid. And not to brag, but I was pretty good at it.
I had a knack for finding hiding places no one else could find. More often than not, I was willing to crawl into places everyone else thought were too gross or too scary.
Hide-and-seek was the best. There was nothing like finding the perfect hiding spot, and you knew you'd won when you heard those magical words…
OLLY-OLLY-OXEN-FREE!
To be honest, I have no idea what those words actually mean, but I knew exactly what they meant in the game. It meant the search was over… and nobody had found me.
Hide-and-seek is a fantastic game to play when you're eight years old… but truth be told, many of us are still playing our own version of hide-and-seek… and not with our family or friends—but with God.
As I continue in this series of devotionals entitled QUESTIONS, I was confronted with another phenomenal question while reading through 1 Samuel this week. And yes… it has everything to do with hide-and-seek.
God had chosen Saul to become Israel's first king, and the prophet Samuel gathered the people together to announce God's choice... but Saul was nowhere to be found.
See that with me in 1 Samuel 10:22…
"So they asked the LORD, 'Where is he?' And the LORD replied, 'He is hiding among the baggage.'"
I don't know about you, but I find that strangely comforting.
Not because Saul was hiding—but because I know that feeling all too well.
Maybe Saul felt overwhelmed.
Maybe he didn't think he was ready.
Maybe he wondered if someone else would do a better job.
I’m not 100% certain as to what was going on in Saul's heart, but one thing is crystal clear… instead of stepping into what God had called him to do, he stepped behind the baggage.
As I sat with this story, the QUESTION the LORD confronted me with was simply this…
WHAT BAGGAGE AM I HIDING BEHIND?
It's safe to say that God isn't calling any of us to become the next king of Israel, but I do know this... the LORD is constantly inviting us to take another step with Him.
Maybe He's inviting you...
... to share your faith with a co-worker.
... to forgive someone you've decided is unforgivable.
... to invite your neighbor over for dinner.
... to join a GROUP instead of doing life on your own.
... to join a TEAM by serving in Kids, Students, Parking, Greeting, or Facilities.
... to spend time in God's Word before your day begins.
... to pray with your spouse.
... to begin giving toward the mission and ministry of your local church.
I don't know the specific step the LORD is inviting you to take, but I do know this...
THE LORD IS ALWAYS INVITING US TO BE PART OF HIS WORK.
I don't want to oversimplify it, but eventually we'll all do one of two things: we'll either say, "Okay, LORD... let's do this." Or, like Saul, we'll hide behind the proverbial baggage.
So, what does hiding look like?
Sometimes it's keeping ourselves so busy that we never slow down long enough to hear God's voice.
Sometimes it's telling ourselves, "Someone else will do that... and they'll probably do it better."
Sometimes it's waiting until we feel more confident, more prepared, or more spiritual.
And sometimes... it's simply fear.
Maybe to state the obvious here, but…
GOD ALWAYS KNOWS WHERE WE ARE.
The LORD knew exactly where Saul was.
And He knows exactly where we are.
He knows what's weighing on our hearts.
He knows what we're afraid of.
He knows the excuses we've already rehearsed.
And yet, despite knowing all of that—and so much more—His invitation remains exactly the same… COME WITH ME.
If you're currently hiding behind some baggage, I'd invite you to sit with the same question I've been sitting with while reading 1 Samuel 10:22…
WHAT BAGGAGE AM I HIDING BEHIND?
Today, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, is a GREAT DAY to stop hiding behind the baggage.
Whatever the LORD has been whispering to your heart... say yes… take the next step.
You don't have to know where the whole journey leads, you simply need to trust the One who's leading it.
And as you take that step, I’m fully confident that you'll discover what I’ve discovered along the way…
GOD IS FAITHFUL TO MEET US IN THE STEPS WE TAKE.
