Peek-A-Boo!

When I was a child, I loved to play “Peek-A-Boo” with my parents. It was my chance to deliberately hide. But hiding wasn’t the best part for me. It was in being found where I experienced the most joy.  Growing up, I often felt unseen. So much activity surrounded my older brothers and sister, as well as the baby, that I often felt pushed aside. So imagine my joy when my parents would be intentional in their pursuit of me as we played this game . It was my time alone with them. Uninterrupted. They had to come looking for me. I was waiting to be found.

God is the same way. He deliberately pursues me.  When I choose to hide, for fear of being seen, He draws near to me, and His love chases me down. He is relentless in His pursuit of me.

Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.   (Psalm 23:6 – Message)

In my day-to-day world, all I ever seem to focus on are the unfinished tasks and unmet expectations. I mean, aren’t I suppose to keep the house running, neat and organized and make sure my children behave in an orderly fashion? And while my shortcomings and missteps are on display for all to see, there is something deep inside of me that screams, “I just want to be seen”! “I want someone to notice me”!  I am not talking about the me that is the housewife, mom, maid,  taxi-driver, organizer or menu planner. I want the real me to be seen. That woman that God created me to be.  After giving the majority of myself to a full-time job, then coming home to try to accomplish those things that I have to do in order to keep the house functioning, I long for encouragement. I long for acknowledgment. I long to be seen.

Who is this woman?  Underneath piles of laundry, unwashed dishes in the sink, toys strewn about the house, cracker crumbs on the floor and the constant state of disorganization, how could anyone truly see me underneath all of this chaos?

But God sees me.

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13 NLT)

He is the God who sees me. Not for what I do, but for who I truly am.

His child.

One who stands redeemed and forgiven.

The apple of His eye.

His friend.

One who walks free and whole before Him.

Chosen.

I can almost picture the Father, coming to uncover the “real me” amongst the piles of failures I bury myself under. He wants to play. And I want to hide. There are so many things left undone. So many words that did not come out right. So many failures. Yes, I am going to run and hide and bury myself underneath my faults. But then He comes, and I hear Him say,

“Peek-A-Boo, I see you!”

And He gently removes the piles of failures that I bury myself under, and there He uncovers the “real me”. The One that He loves.

How about you? Do you struggle to be seen? Not for what you do, but for who you truly are? Will you rest in His love today? His pursuit of you is unending. He is the God who sees you.

26 Responses to Peek-A-Boo!
  1. Charina
    January 31, 2012 | 4:56 am

    Oh Barbie, this is beautiful, just beautiful!

    And yes He is the God who sees us, even if we don’t…Blessings!

    • Barbie
      February 1, 2012 | 3:11 am

      Thank you my sweet friend!

  2. Susan
    January 31, 2012 | 6:47 am

    Absolutely beautiful Barbie. You’re so right! The Lord waits for us…He is patient with us…and He pursues us too! He is amazing! You’re a beautiful woman with a heart for the Lord. I always enjoy your posts! 🙂

    • Barbie
      January 31, 2012 | 10:17 am

      Thank you so much Susan!

  3. Debbie
    January 31, 2012 | 8:10 am

    I’m so glad that we cannot hide from God. He pursues us. It’s sometimes hard to get my head around that one.

    I love your post today. Thank you for sharing so honestly and from your heart. Love it and you Barbie.

    Debbie

    • Barbie
      January 31, 2012 | 10:17 am

      Love you too my friend! Thank you for always being so encouraging.

  4. Jamie
    January 31, 2012 | 8:10 am

    “Underneath piles of laundry, unwashed dishes in the sink, toys strewn about the house, cracker crumbs on the floor and the constant state of disorganization, how could anyone truly see me underneath all of this chaos?” –

    You perfectly described how I feel many days. I am truly blessed by this post. I think the reason I started my blog was for this very reason… to be seen for the “inside” me, not only the “happy homemaker” me. Thank you for sharing this!

    • Barbie
      January 31, 2012 | 10:19 am

      It’s such a deep cry of my heart for others to know who I am on the inside. I am confident that God knows and sees! Blessings!

  5. Laura
    January 31, 2012 | 8:23 am

    So nice to think of God looking for me. 🙂 And the joyful happy greeting when I’m found.

    • Barbie
      January 31, 2012 | 10:19 am

      AMEN!

  6. Rosann
    January 31, 2012 | 10:06 am

    Barbie, your writing always blows me away. In fact, I often wonder how you can write so well and so creatively after having spent all day working a full time job, then coming home and dealing with those responsibilities too. I see you as the beautiful soul you reflect on screen and since writing is such a personal unveiling of sorts, I suspect that’s who you really are too. Peek a boo, friend…I see you…and you are beautiful!!

    And yes, I can totally relate to wanting to be seen, myself. 🙂

    Blessings,
    ~Rosann

  7. Barbie
    January 31, 2012 | 10:20 am

    Thank you Rosann. You really encourage my heart. I told a dear friend yesterday that when I write, I escape to that place where it’s just me and Him. God gave me the creative title and we worked on the words together! Blessings!

  8. charis
    January 31, 2012 | 10:51 am

    this is a great reminder that He continually pursues us. man, do we ever need to feel pursued and valued and seen and He knows just the way to our hearts.

    my recent post: how to change what your heart loves

    • Barbie
      February 1, 2012 | 3:12 am

      Yes! I love that He knows exactly where to find me, and accepts me no matter the mess I’m found in.

  9. Lynda
    January 31, 2012 | 10:52 am

    Love this!! It’s so easy to think He only sees us with all the shortcomings we are only too aware of. Makes me think I need to spend some extra time and ask Him to show me the way He thinks of me. Maybe a little “peek-a-boo” moment for myself.

    • Barbie
      February 1, 2012 | 3:13 am

      I agree. I was just thinking I need to ask Him how He sees me, and truly be listening!

  10. Nikki
    January 31, 2012 | 11:16 am

    Beautiful words, Barbie. They encouraged me greatly, thank you!
    Every day I try to wrap my head around the concept that He deliberately pursues me. The He loves me that much. That’s I’m worth the effort of seeking. And every day I pray I don’t hide. That I don’t look away. Because, like you said, that’s where the joy is. In the discovery of being found.
    What grace!

    Blessings to you,
    Nikki

    • Barbie
      February 1, 2012 | 3:14 am

      I love what you said, how we are worth the effort of being sought after! So true!

  11. Laura Rath
    January 31, 2012 | 1:19 pm

    This is so encouraging Barbie! I especially like this sentence: “And He gently removes the piles of failures that I bury myself under,…” I’ve never thought of it like that, but it’s so true. Those failures pile up and weigh me down. I’m so glad He never stops looking for me! Thanks Barbie!

    In Christ,
    Laura

    • Barbie
      February 1, 2012 | 3:14 am

      The weight of those failures can get so heavy at times. I am thankful He seeks after me and gently removes them!

  12. Dolly
    January 31, 2012 | 5:32 pm

    This is so encouraging, Barbie! To know that the God of the universe sees us and wants to be with us is so amazing!… I see you and I’m glad you see Jesus!

    • Barbie
      February 1, 2012 | 3:15 am

      Thank you my new friend!

  13. Positively Alene
    January 31, 2012 | 6:40 pm

    YES – many heart felt tears. And I always try to remember that God pursues no matter what. He was the first one in scripture that said, “where are you?” He was walking through the garden looking for Adam and Eve. Oh yes, He pursues us despite what we think of ourselves or what others think. Thank you Lord for playing peek-a-boo with us and asking “where are you?” love ya

  14. Barbie
    February 1, 2012 | 3:17 am

    Thank you for bringing me back to where it all began, in the garden! So thankful for His constant pursuit!

  15. Kimberly
    February 2, 2012 | 7:52 pm

    How tender to my heart to know He pursues me. HE pursues ME. Honestly, I don’t always feel very “pursuable”. Especially on those days where I feel buried in failures and the just plain ol’ day to day stuff. Such a wonderful reminder of how amazing and real His love is. Thanks, sweet Barbie!

  16. Genny
    February 3, 2012 | 4:13 pm

    Oh gosh yes, Barbie. I have struggled to be seen throughout my life. But I have learned (and continue to learn!) that when I put my focus on Him, the struggle falls away and I am filled with the truth that I am always seen and loved.