Last Sunday, April 21st, our cat KC fell ill suddenly at 4:00 am.  He had a heart wrenching meow, heavy panting and unable to move the lower half of his body.  As I reflect on how much pain and suffering he was going through, his natural reaction was to seek out someplace to hide.  As animals when hurting, our natural response is to withdraw, to hide ourselves from others.  Whether it is  a physical hurt, emotional hurt, mental hurt, or spiritual hurt; we hide it.

Maybe that is not you but I know that is what I do to myself.  Hiding isn’t always being locked up in a room with no one around sometimes it is simply withdrawing yourself from conversations.  Maybe even taking yourself out of relationships.  I know for me I don’t deliberately withhold myself, it is a subconscious response.  Stepping back for a moment is okay, but I know I shouldn’t stay there too long.  God has things his has asked me to complete and I will be unable to complete them if I stop moving and hide within myself.

Jeremiah 29:11(NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to give you hope and a future.”  So I have this destiny, right now it is taking care of my family, volunteering at my daughter’s school, running a small business and directing the Youth Program at my church.  Yours may be different than mine but I know I cannot fulfill this plan if I am not present.  I cannot give my best if I am withholding any part of myself.  God never withdraws from us.  He is always faithful.

If ever I am questioning where I am or where I am going  Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  No part of my plan has to be ME alone  – I just have to remember to seek my heavenly Father and know without doubt he is always with me.  He also never said that my future would be without hurt.  As human beings, we get hurt.  The thing about life is that the hurt doesn’t have to define who we are unless we let it.  We should define ourselves as God sees us through his love and grace.  Take the courage to live your life in spite of any hurt you may be dealing with at the moment.  You are never alone.