
Helen Syski asks: When God hides His face, is He playing Peek-a-boo?
Giggles rose from deep in his belly. Despite himself, he was now grinning with every cell of his little body. A moment ago, tears and tantrum. Now, his whole being alight with joy.
There’s nothing like a little game of “Where is Mommy? … Peek-a-boo!” to pull my baby out of his little whirlpool of angst. Whether it arose from the indignity of a diaper change, the horrors of having to go to bed, or the pain of a cutting tooth, the momentary surprise and concern of a missing person makes his eyes go wide and grabs his attention.
Then, upon that beloved face’s return, he is all delight and relief. His attention is drawn from his pain to a comforting presence, where peace can reign. As he grows a little older and recognizes the game, he is still instantly enthralled, his minor woes forgotten as he enters into the ancient drama of lost and found.
When God plays Peek-a-boo
God also hides His face from us. Sometimes it is when we feel we most need Him. We moan or scream, “Where is God?” It is a question which makes us quake, or rage in anger, and is a line of questioning that has led many away from faith. It is a serious and tortuous path.
In Counsels of Light and Love of St. John of the Cross, this saint of the dark night of the soul admonishes us to live darkness in faith:
When you are burdened, you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience.
God hides His face in order to draw our attention away from ourselves, to stop our navel-gazing, to draw us once again closer to Himself. He is playing a game of peek-a-boo, reminding us of what truly matters. His face is what we seek most of all. His presence is what brings us peace, even when our circumstances do not change. This why Jesus tells us, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3); this is God’s game of Peek-a-boo.
When we play Peek-a-boo with God
This fall I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that my 10-month-old was sitting with his face pressed as far sideways as he could in his car seat. I wondered what he could be doing. The sun was not strong that day; what could be causing such a face?
I turned my attention back to the road, then glanced again. He was still scrunching himself away from something. I was perplexed until suddenly my 6-year-old figured out what his brother wanted. “Wheeeeerrre’s Baby-roo?” A pause. “There he is!” Laughter and giggles burst into the car.
Baby was bored and lonely, strapped in his car seat. Would his imprisonment never end? Why was he separated from his playmates? He had hidden his face to get his brother’s attention. And to his glee, it worked! Connection restored.
Our honest prayer, as modeled in the psalms, is a pouring out of our hearts. When we are feeling distant or left by God, these expressions of pain, sorrow, and anger are us playing Peek-a-boo with God. We are hiding our face from Him, but all the while seeking Him to come and be in our presence. It is temporary; it is our hook!
Then as we hear Him call our name as He did to Adam, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9) we can turn to face Him again and exclaim, “Here I am!”
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Copyright 2025 Helen Syski
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About the Author

Helen Syski
Helen Syski is co-founder of the Kiss of Mercy Apostolate, a Little Way to heal the world from abortion. A life-long New Englander and Harvard grad, Helen enjoys all four seasons and apple pie with her husband, children, and Labrador retriever. Continue the conversation at AdequateAnthropologist.com.
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