Providing a Hiding Place for Our Children

“But Jehosheba… took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.” 2 Kings 11:2-3

Jehosheba risked everything to protect a child. While Athaliah was slaughtering the royal heirs, Joash’s aunt grabbed him, carried him away, and hid him in the temple for six years. She made sure there was a hiding place for him, a place where he could be preserved until God’s plan was fulfilled.

That is the call of parents and the church today. We are to provide a spiritual hiding place for our children. 

A place where they are shielded from the enemy’s schemes. A place where they can grow strong until they are ready to stand on their own.

I was reminded of this truth when I visited the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Anne was just a young girl when her family was forced into hiding. They lived in a secret annex for more than two years, with the constant fear of discovery. The entrance to the annex was hidden behind a bookcase, and the rooms were cramped and dark. Yet inside that space, a family gave everything they could to protect their children.

Walking through those rooms, you can almost feel the weight of the danger they lived under and the courage it took to keep them safe. You think of Anne writing in her diary, a child clinging to hope in a world of destruction. That family could have ignored the risk, but instead, they created a hiding place. And because of that, her voice still speaks to the world today.

As parents and leaders, we face a similar question. Is it worth it to build a hiding place for our children? Is it worth saying no when yes would be easier? Is it worth standing firm when the culture tells you to let go? The answer is yes. What feels like a burden now may one day be the very thing that protects your family. Take seriously the call to provide shelter. When the enemy comes knocking, your children will know they had a place to run because you cared enough to give it to them.

Prayer: Lord, help me to build a safe hiding place for my family. Give me wisdom to protect my children from harm and strength to hold the line when it is difficult. Thank You for being our ultimate refuge. Amen.

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