Devotional

Scripture Focus: Genesis 3:7-9, 21 | Psalm 139:7 | John 21:15

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked… and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God.” – Genesis 3:7-8

Lena had always been the steadfast one. The friend who arrived early, the colleague who stayed late, the daughter who navigated life with quiet diligence. Her world felt stable, predictable, built on a foundation of careful choices and a deep desire to honour God. But then, in a single, unguarded moment, that carefully constructed world seemed to fracture.

It was an impulsive decision, a boundary blurred, a secret she wished she could unlive. The shame that followed hit her like a tidal wave, dragging her under. Sleep became a stranger. Food lost its taste. Prayer felt like a hollow echo in an empty room. Instead of seeking solace, Lena sought solitude. She cancelled plans, let calls go to voicemail, and avoided the familiar faces at church. She felt like a fraud, convinced that God must be utterly disappointed, perhaps even disgusted, by her failure.

One evening, cocooned in the dim light of her small flat, curtains drawn against the world, Lena whispered into the oppressive silence, “God… You must be so tired of me.”

And then, unexpectedly, a verse she hadn’t consciously recalled in years surfaced in her mind, a faint but persistent whisper from ancient texts:

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked… and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God.” – Genesis 3:7-8

Lena felt the weight of those words in her bones. Naked. Exposed. Ashamed. Hiding. Just like Adam and Eve in the garden. They had possessed everything – paradise, purpose, the intimate presence of God – yet they reached for what was forbidden. They crossed a line, and their first, primal instinct mirrored Lena’s own: to hide.

The Tender Question: “Where Are You?”

But the very next verse in Genesis changed everything for Lena, cutting through the darkness of her self-condemnation:

“But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” – Genesis 3:9

God came looking. It was not with a thunderbolt of judgment, nor a searing condemnation, nor with disgust. But with a question, tender and searching: “Where are you?”

Lena had always imagined God retreating when she failed, His presence withdrawing in disappointment. But Genesis painted a radically different picture:

Humanity’s Response	God’s Response
Adam and Eve hid.	God sought them.
They covered themselves with leaves.	God covered them with garments (Genesis 3:21).
They broke trust.	God initiated restoration.
They ran away.	God walked toward them.

This isn’t an isolated incident; it’s the consistent pattern woven throughout the tapestry of Scripture:

• When Hagar, outcast and desperate, fled into the wilderness, God found her and declared, “I see you” (Genesis 16:13).
• When Jonah defiantly ran from God’s call, God pursued him with a storm, a great fish, and a relentless, sovereign mercy (Jonah 1-3).
• When King David fell into grievous sin, God sent the prophet Nathan – not to destroy him, but to confront and restore him (2 Samuel 12).
• When Peter, in a moment of fear, denied Jesus three times, the resurrected Christ later cooked him breakfast on the shore and gently asked, “Do you love Me?” (John 21:15) – not to shame, but to heal and recommission.
• When the prodigal son, rehearsing his apology, was still a long way off, his father ran to him, embraced him, and celebrated, “My son was lost and is found!” (Luke 15:24).

Over and over, the same profound truth echoes: God does not walk away when we fall. He walks toward us.

Found in the Pursuit

The next morning, a fragile hope stirring within her, Lena forced herself out of the flat. She walked to a small park, found a quiet bench, and let the crisp air awaken her senses. “God,” she whispered, the word barely audible, “if You’re still here, I need You.”

And in that quiet moment, another verse rose, not from memory, but from a deeper place, a newfound conviction:

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?” – Psalm 139:7

She realized with a jolt that she had been hiding from a God who wasn’t hiding from her. A God who had already seen her worst and still loved her. A God who covered Adam and Eve even after their rebellion. A God who restored Peter even after his denial. A God who runs toward prodigals, not away from them.

Lena didn’t suddenly have all the answers, nor was her situation instantly resolved. But she rose from that bench with a single, anchoring truth: God wasn’t waiting for her to get it right. He was coming to find her in the very moment she got it wrong.

A Moment to Pause and Reflect

Where are you hiding today? Behind the guilt of a past mistake? Behind a secret you fear will unravel everything? Behind the gnawing fear that God must surely be disappointed in you?

Listen closely. Hear His voice – not angry, not accusing, but tender, persistent, and full of grace:

“Where are you?”

This is not a demand for an explanation. It is an invitation. An invitation to step out of the shadows. An invitation to be covered, not condemned. An invitation to be found by the God whose love is not contingent on your perfection. His very nature is to pursue the fallen.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that Your love pursues me even when I hide. Forgive me for believing the lie that I must earn Your presence or clean myself up before I can come to You. Open my eyes to see Your relentless grace, and give me the courage to step out of hiding and into Your loving embrace. Amen.

This Week’s Practice

Identify one area in your life where you feel the urge to hide from God or others due to shame or failure. Consciously choose to bring that area into the light, either through prayer, confession to a trusted friend, or simply acknowledging it before God. Remember, His question “Where are you?” is an invitation to be found, not a summons to judgment.