Daily Devotionals

Bride and Gloom Week 2: Tuesday

"Then the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid." Genesis 3:9-10a

There are two types of people in the world: those who admit their mistakes head-on and those who try to hide them. Of course, one of these groups of people is healthier than the other. Those who admit their mistakes instead of hiding them are much healthier than the people who try to hide them. Why? Hiding keeps us from being fully known and taking steps to move forward. Adam and Eve, the first people created, certainly learned that hiding only distanced them from God (and probably each other). 

After Adam and Eve introduced sin into the world, they did something fascinating but not surprising: they hid. When they gave in to sin in Genesis 3, they felt shame for the first time. When they heard God walking through the Garden of Eden, they hid from Him. Shame makes us want to hide our mistakes instead of exposing ourselves, sin and all. It convinces us that we will be free of judgment and conflict if we hide our mistakes and sin. The truth, however, is that we cannot hide. God sees us. That is why He found Adam and Eve. There is no hiding and escaping from God but rest assured, my friend, that is a good thing. When we come out of hiding and reveal our sin, only then can we take steps toward restoration and healing. 

Friends, it is time to come out of hiding. It is time to open up about our struggles and our shame in our relationships. After all, opening up is the only way to be fully known, and when you open up, you can take steps toward healing and forgiveness.

Moving toward action

Using your journal or a notebook, reflect. Do you find yourself acknowledging your mistakes or hiding instead? What would it look like for you to be honest about your struggles and mistakes instead of trying to cover them up? After journaling, pray. Ask God to help you as you seek to be fully known, mistakes and all, instead of hiding. 

Going Deeper

Genesis 3:1-12 (NLT)

"The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?"

2 "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. 3 "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'"

4 "You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. 5 "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil."

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

8 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. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He replied, "I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked."

11 "Who told you that you were naked?" the Lord God asked. "Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?"

12 The man replied, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it."