Where Are You?
By Sharon Musgrove
Playing hide-and-seek with a toddler makes me laugh because
of the innocence and lack of self-awareness. Crouching behind a chair or a
houseplant, yet still in plain sight, the little one believes that because he
cannot see me, he is invisible.
Developing spiritually can look like an ongoing game of
hide-and-seek with God. In sin, we, His children, sneak off, finding progressively
dark places to hide and hope to “win” by going unfound. But finding better
places to mask our behavior is the opposite of winning. And hiding from an ever-present, all-knowing
Lord is like hiding behind translucent window sheers, He always sees us full
well.
When Adam and Eve were attempting to conceal themselves in
greenery after they sinned, God asked them questions. He did this to get them to think about the
situation from a wiser perspective. In His questions, God gives opportunity for
personal growth... if we are willing to answer Him honestly.
The Lord asked, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9), meeting
His children at their level of development. Like a parent seeing little feet
sticking out from under the bed, our Spiritual Father knows where we are at all
times. Yet in His wisdom, God simply
turns the light on so that we can see where our relationship with Him stands. And His preference is we answer Him honestly of
how we got there.
“I heard the sound
of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”
Genesis 3:10 ESV
Adam replied initially with vulnerability that he was afraid
of God. Answering truthfully was his first step out of hiding.
Repentance begins with taking ownership of what we think,
what we feel, and what we do. When we honestly
splay ourselves before our Maker, we open ourselves up for corrective
reconciliation. It is here that I was afraid, has the chance to become I
trust you, Lord.
Spiritual maturity is the process of rebuilding a trusting heart
toward our Heavenly Father and putting feelings of shame to death. So, when we find ourselves in a dark corner
of life or wanting to remain hidden under the covers, this poignant question Where
are you? can help us take an initial step out of that depressive place.
God’s Word shares with us a loving response to His sinful
children.
“And the Lord God
made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” Genesis
3:21 ESV
God’s answer to a knowingly naked couple was to cover them.
Additionlly, we also find in scripture that it was ALWAYS
God’s intent to cover His children. The
Living Bible translation puts it clearly....
“God chose him
[Jesus] for this purpose long before the world began, but only recently was he
brought into public view, in these last days, as a blessing to you. Because of
this, your trust can be in God who raised Christ from the dead and gave him
great glory. Now your faith and hope can rest in him alone.” 1Peter 1:20-21 TLB
Long before the creation of the world, God knew He would be
covering His people’s sins. Jesus as Savior was never Plan B, but rather the
original plan. The Genesis story...and the Revelation story conclude with the
blessing of our being covered by God.
The question then becomes – Will we trust Him?
Friends, no matter where you are in your spiritual walk
today, you need not be hiding from God, nor fearful of His rejection of you.
Hear His voice. Know that He is calling
out to you something like, “Olly Olly Oxen Free!” which means all who are out
may come in penalty free. Will you come forth and trust the Lord?
Author
Bio:
Sharon has
been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and
devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
