In Search of Object Permanence

I was playing the time-honored classic with my four-month-old the other day.

“Peek-a-boo!”

His little giggle was making me giggle, and in a sing-song joking voice I peeked out from behind my hands and teased him, “Silly, baby, you don’t even have object permanence yet!”

And in that moment in my living room in my favorite cozy chair, with my baby still grinning up at me from my lap, the Lord oh so lovingly, in a teasing sing-song voice spoke right to my heart. 

“Gracie, baby, you don’t always have object permanence either.”

And boy, is He right. Sometimes, I need to be reminded that spiritually I am four-months old.

But we're told to become like children, right?

Object permanence is the development of understanding that something continues to exist even when that something is out of sight or can no longer be sensed. It’s the understanding that something, or someone, is still in existence, even when you physically are unable to sense their presence. 

And there are many times in my life when I don’t sense God. There are many stretches when I don’t hear Him in prayer. There are many sufferings I don’t feel His presence in. There are many situations in which I can’t see Him.

But just because He isn’t seen, or heard, or felt, doesn’t mean He isn’t present. 

Spiritual desolation is a real thing. Suffering and pain are real. The road to Sainthood is frequently the road through the Cross. The Lord never promised us a prosperity Gospel. He never promised us an easy, always happy, suffering-free existence. But He does promise us something for when all those things inevitably come our way. 

God’s promise is His presence.

So maybe it's not that God doesn't care, or is distant, or absent. Maybe it's me who needs to grow in my understanding.

So I’m going to be working on developing my object permanence. 

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“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

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