SHAME OFF YOUSample

Day 1. 

WHERE ARE YOU?

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?"

—Genesis 3:8-9 [NLT]

What is the origin of the universal shame narrative? 

We read in the book of Genesis, the ancient and sacred creation narrative, that Adam and Eve were naked and yet they felt no shame [Genesis 2:25].

Neither of them was afraid of being exposed or exploited. They were never intimidated, angry, jealous, judgmental, or suspicious of each other. There was not a moment when they were self-conscious, self-absorbed, or self-righteous. 

Yet, as the narrative unfolds, it appears that out of nowhere, everything goes horribly wrong. Adam and Eve have done the unthinkable—they have rebelled and sinned against God. Could everything be eternally lost for humanity?

God graciously approaches the couple during the “cool of the day”. We can only imagine there was usually anticipation and delight of this unhindered experience, of God walking in the garden during the cool of the day.

Tragically, God the Father asked the heartbreaking question, “Where are you?” 

The three words “Where are you?” is more of a statement than a question. After all, God knows everything about everything; God knows exactly where they are hiding and why they are hiding. 

This is the catastrophic birth of shame.

FOR THOUGHT AND CONTEMPLATION

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

—Psalm 139:7-12, [NIV]

There are times in life we ask God, “Where are You?”

Psalm 139 assures us that God is wholly present wherever we go and whatever situation we are in.

What is one thing God is saying to you from Psalm 139?

Turn your revelation from Psalm 139 into intimate conversation [prayer] with God.