Now You See Me, Now You Don't

This powerful message takes us deep into the hidden seasons of our spiritual lives, using the childhood of Jesus as our guide. Drawing from Luke 2:39-52, we discover a profound truth: God operates in cycles of hiding and introduction throughout our journey. When we feel invisible, overlooked, or stuck in a dark season, it may not be the enemy at work—it could be God developing us in the hidden place. Like a photograph that must be developed in a dark room away from light, our gifts and calling require seasons of obscurity for proper formation. The sermon reveals three divine purposes for hidden seasons: God is forging us for our future, protecting us from the poison that comes with giftedness (pride, misunderstanding, and success anxiety), and training us to become targets who can withstand opposition. We learn that Jesus disappeared from the biblical narrative between infancy and age twelve, then again from twelve to thirty—hidden seasons where He grew in wisdom, strength, stature, and favor. The message challenges us to embrace wherever we are in the cycle, whether hidden or introduced, and to stay in alignment with God's timing rather than forcing our own exposure or resisting our moment of emergence.