Daily Devotionals for Women - Today's Encouraging Word from Scripture

WHY ARE YOU HIDING?

By: Christine Wyrtzen

But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:9-10

I’m not sure I ever noticed that Adam didn’t give the right answer when God asked him where he was. Adam said, “I hid because I was naked.” That wasn’t true. He should have said, “I hid because I disobeyed you.” Why didn’t I see that before? Probably because I do the same thing.

There have been periods when I’ve avoided God. I quenched His quiet voice when I could hear Him calling to me. I kept the noise level high to drown Him out. The more time went by, the harder it became to turn around. Excuses are thin when I stand before a holy God with no distractions. “I was busy” doesn’t cut it. Like Adam, I’m hiding from the real issue.

Behind all excuses is usually sin. I do something I shouldn’t do. I believe something about Him that isn’t true which causes me to distrust His love and faithfulness. The fracture in our relationship will never be right until I tell the truth.

Sooner or later, every person who hides from God will stand before Him. They will encounter Him as Judge or Savior. Those who ran from His presence because they were disobedient children will mourn their choices. When blinded by the glory of such a wonderful God, they will regret all the small things they hid behind. Those who ran from His presence because they were enemies of the cross will also mourn their choices. Like the rich man in Hades, they will see the expanse of an eternity before them that offers no second chances.

I can be consumed today with just a sideways glance of a mere acquaintance. Thinking something might be wrong, I obsess. But, am I equally consumed when I sense that things between God and me aren’t right? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to make it right, starting with owning the truth?

Sometimes, I haven’t known what was wrong but when I asked, You showed me. Thank you for all the times You looked for me. Amen.

For more from Christine Wyrtzen and Jaime Wyrtzen Lauze, please visit www.daughtersofpromise.org