One of the first things a baby learns is the idea of object permanence. I'm sure there is some scientific phrase for it, but when a baby is young and plays peekaboo, they are amazed how a person can exist one moment and not the next. All of this based on whether they can see the peeking person. It doesn't take long before the child figures out that covering ones face does not actually determine the existence of the individual. They soon cunningly smile and pull at the hand of the peekabooer as if to say, I figured it out.
How sad it is that many of us are stuck in the baby stage of our spiritual walks. We come to know God, experience His goodness, but then briefly lose sight of Him, and think He has gone forever. Our faith in His permanence is on shaky ground. A prayer, that is important to us may seem to be met with silence. Death may strike near us. Financial woes may knock on our door. These are all big things in our life and it is understandable how they might affect our emotion, but in reality it is not much different than a child. God is still there. Even when we sometimes don't feel it. God is still there. When sometimes what is happening doesn't make sense or is unfair. God is still there. Our faith plays a role in this, but I suspect it would bring a tearful smile to God's eye if we, in the middle of a difficulty actively reach out to Him, to "cunningly" uncover His presence with us in the middle of the hardship. It is in these moments He longs to be sought out, and to seek is to find.
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