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I Don't Want to Talk About It

What do we do when we fail God?  My failures and disobedience have put me in some pretty dark places.  I have hidden from God and from people to avoid the shame of being seen as a failure.

Most of us know the creation story all too well.  Adam and Eve decide they know better and turn away from the command of God.  In Genesis 3 we see Adam and Eve hiding because of the shame they felt over eating the fruit in the garden:

Genesis 3:8-10, "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'  He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'"

What caused the fear in Adam and Eve?  They recognized that they were naked and ultimately it was sin that exposed them. This is the same for us when we turn away from God’s guidance.  We feel ashamed and want to hide from God, and people.

But God gets to the heart of the matter.  He asks in verse 11, “Who told you that you were naked?" God knows that sometimes we listen to the wrong voice.  We have an enemy, an accuser, and that accuser wants to destroy us with thoughts and words.

If we will listen, God our Father can have the final word on all of the accusations and all the shame that keeps us in hiding. 

Reflect and Discuss

1.  What needs to be brought out of darkness into the light in your life?  
2. What does God’s Word have to say about it?

Prayer

Dear Lord, I know I have hidden myself from you.  I know that I have listened to the accuser instead of listening to you.  I pray that your voice would become louder and clear in my mind and my thoughts.  I need to remember what you say about my sin and shame.