A New Perspective

I have had some meaningful conversations lately. One of the most meaningful by far has focused on the topic of shame. Our human shamefulness.

This brings me back to the original account of shame, Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve messed up, big time. And they knew it. In Genesis 3:7 it says, "Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made covering for themselves." Adam and Eve were ashamed. So they made some clothes to shield themselves from that shame. "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden." (Gen. 3:8). What did the man and woman do? They hid. They hid from the Lord. And "the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'" (Gen. 3:9). Here's where it gets pretty meaningful. Does this all-knowing God not know where his children are? Is he actually asking them where they are?

No.

The truth is that God sees them. They have chosen to be shameful and hide from him.

Far too often we feel dirty. We feel wicked, like what we have done is too much. I know that this is a common message and belief that we feel like we need to clean ourselves up before we go to God. We need to stitch together some fig leaves and put on our brave faces. In all actuality, God wants to meet you right in the thick of your mucky mud puddle. He wants to see you in your brokeness and sinfulness. But our sin and shame makes us hide from him.

So when you feel too messy for God, realize that those moments are when God wants you most. And God is not choosing to look away from you, you are hiding from him.