Key Verse:
“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ He replied, ‘I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.’” – Genesis 3:8–10 (NLT)
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, their first instinct was to hide. Fear replaced fellowship, and guilt replaced grace. “Where are you?” was not a question of location; it was a question of relationship. God was not angry as much as He was concerned. Adam thought the voice of God meant condemnation, but it was actually an invitation to restoration. Fear had distorted his hearing, making him believe he needed to fix himself before coming to God.
Many of us still live like Adam. We hide our flaws behind filters and phrases like “I’m fine” or “I’m working on myself,” when in truth, we are afraid to be seen. We fear rejection, judgment, or being misunderstood. But God’s voice still calls out, “Where are you?” not to shame us, but to draw us back into His presence. Fear isolates, but love restores. You do not have to fix yourself before coming to Him; you only need to come.
Shame is a powerful tool of the enemy. It convinces us to hide from the very One who can heal us. The devil wants you to stay in the dark, but God invites you into the light. Do the opposite of what fear tells you. If fear says hide, run to God. If it says stay silent, speak to someone you can trust. Grace is found where honesty meets love.
Beloved, there is no need to stay hidden. Jesus already carried your guilt and shame to the cross. When God calls your name, hear it as an invitation, not an accusation. Step out of hiding and back into His presence. His grace is still enough for you.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving me even when I fall short. Help me to stop hiding behind shame and to come boldly into your presence. Remind me that your voice is filled with love, not condemnation. Cover me with your grace and plant me in a community that reflects your compassion. In Jesus’ name, amen.
