“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52 (NIV)

It was late spring in the Ozarks, and the threat of crushing cold snaps had passed. My husband is the family gardener. But, oh, I do love weeding. Especially after a rain, there’s something so satisfying about getting to the root of things.

So there I was, on my knees, under a 100-year-old walnut tree.

Winter’s weather had compressed autumn’s offering into a thick blanket of now decomposing leaves. Peeling back layer after layer, I cleared the way for new growth when, much to my surprise, I discovered that something had already been growing!

Underneath the thick, leafy camouflage was a stunning flower! It was bent over, as though humbled by hiddenness, but its strong stem was hosting something beautiful.

Death had concealed it.
Time had buried it.
No one was looking for it.
Which is the perfect environment for growth.

What seemed to smother the flower was protecting it, granting it undisturbed space to be and to become.

Such is the gift of hiddenness.
Unseen. Uncelebrated. Underestimated. Protected.
Obscure. Out of sight. Overlooked. Protected.

I paused to ponder the contrasts. Life under death. Growth under barrenness. Beauty cultivated not on display but in obscurity.

Without that blanket of decomposing leaves, the flower couldn’t have survived the freeze. What hid it … helped it. What delayed its visibility … preserved its potential.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, this is what the Father did with His Son.

Like that hidden flower, close to 90% of Jesus’ days were spent hidden.

In the Bible, we see Jesus’ birth, followed by hidden days.
We see Him circumcised on the eighth day, followed by hidden weeks.
We see Him dedicated at the temple on the 40th day, followed by hidden months.
We see Him visited by magi around the age of 2, followed by hidden years.
We see Him asking insightful questions in the temple at the age of 12, followed by almost two entirely hidden decades.

Then, at the age of 30, Jesus stepped out of anonymity and into debated and documented, celebrated and scrutinized history.

So what might the Father be doing in the seemingly obscure spaces of life?

Our key verse, Luke 2:52, grants us insight: God is growing us.

In Jesus’ hidden years, He “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52), mentally, physically, spiritually and relationally.

So perhaps when we feel unseen and unapplauded, overlooked and underestimated, we, too, can take courage.

When we consider how the Father choreographed the life of His Son, it becomes clear: God doesn’t hide us to punish us. He hides us to protect us. In fact, I believe that hidden years are the surprising birthplace of Christlike, indestructible strength!

Father, You know my tendency to mistake the unseen for unimportant and to become discouraged when my dreams are delayed. I look to Your Son. Help me, my God, to trust Your heart and make peace with Your pace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

“How do I enjoy where I am while I long for what’s missing?” Our next Circle 31 Book Club pick tackles just that! Starting September 1, we’re reading Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years…and Yours by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole together. Jesus Himself experienced longings on earth, and He met each one with God’s unchanging Truth. His power and example help us enjoy this present moment, even while the desire for what’s missing remains. Join us in Circle 31 as we read Anonymous together.

Check out Alicia’s other works, like The Night Is Normal: A Guide through Spiritual Pain and 40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast.

ENGAGE

Alicia would be honored to stay in touch with you! Instagram is where she's most active. She reads (but can’t always respond to) every email at [email protected]. And if you’d like to receive her monthly newsletter or sign up for a free, seven-day devotional called GodPrint, click here.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Luke 2:48-50, “When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he asked. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them” (NIV).

By the age of 12, Luke 2:48-50 tells us Jesus knew who He really was, but He was 18 years away from acting on it. What might have grown in Him as He waited? What might grow in you as you wait? Share with us in the comments!

© 2024 by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Thomas Nelson Publishers for their support of Circle 31 Book Club and Encouragement for Today devotions.

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