Have you ever tried to distance yourself from someone you’ve wronged—dodging interactions, avoiding gatherings, or putting on a smile while hiding the discomfort inside? “Are You Hiding?” explores the spiritual tendency we all share: hiding from God when we know we've fallen short. Through the lens of Adam and Eve’s story in Genesis, this devotional reminds us that God doesn’t abandon us in our shame—He comes looking for us with love, not condemnation.

This message is for anyone who has drifted from God, avoided spiritual disciplines, or felt too ashamed to draw near again. God is not hiding from you—He’s calling your name.

Highlights


Hiding from God is a deeply human response to sin, rooted in fear and shame (Genesis 3:10).


We may avoid Scripture, church, or prayer, thinking we can escape conviction—but God always sees us and still desires relationship.


Even when we distance ourselves, God pursues us, calling out just as He did in the Garden: “Where are you?”


Like the prodigal son (Luke 15), restoration comes not through hiding, but in returning with a surrendered heart.


Fig leaves of distraction—our modern ways of covering sin—can’t replace the healing power of repentance and grace.


When we stop running and respond to God, He covers our shame with love, mercy, and forgiveness.

💬 Join the Conversation

Have you ever felt distant from God because of guilt or shame? What helped you find your way back?

📲 Tag @lifeaudionetwork and share your story using #NoMoreFigLeaves. You never know who might find healing through your honesty.

🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer

🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts:Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

Are You Hiding?

By Megan J. Conner

“When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees.

Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

Gen. 3:8-10 (NLT)

Can you recall a time when you purposely evaded someone because you had wronged or harmed them in some way? You decline invitations to events because you know they will be in attendance, or if being present together is unavoidable, you walk to the other side of the room when they arrive, pretending to be busy with an important task. Perhaps this individual is completely unaware of the offense you carry in your heart, so they continue to pursue relationship with you and are clearly confounded by your distance. It would be better in the long run to have the much-needed hard conversation and make amends, but fear holds you captive.  At the moment, it feels easier to hide. But is it really? 

Because we are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27) each and every one of us knows the difference between right and wrong. A measure of the Holy Spirit resides in every soul. Secular views coin this internal conviction as a conscience that measures and judges the motives of our hearts. Regardless of title or worldview, it is evident that humanity carries within them an organic sense of morality.  Think of a child at a very young age who desires a toy or an object they have been told they cannot have. Even though they know they aren’t supposed to have it, they will plot and plan a way to obtain it.  And once they have it in their possession, what is the first thing they do? They run away and hide. 

Child or adult, none of us is any different. For thousands of years, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when we willfully choose to sin, we separate ourselves from our Creator. We retreat; we go into hiding. Perhaps we stop reading our Bibles, stray away from godly relationships with others, or maybe even avoid attending church or other faith-based gatherings. Somehow, we deceive ourselves into believing this distance shields us from the knowing eyes of the Lord. But the truth is, we are only covering ourselves with fig leaves. 

“The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Gen. 3:6-7 (NLT)

The allure of sin, paired with the deception of the enemy, convinces us that we should not only give in to the desires of our flesh, but that when we do, God is not aware of misgivings. Even further, we should run away from Him rather than towards Him. Similar to our relationships with others, if we avoid reconciliation, we will continue on in a state of unsettledness – of discomfort. Relief will only come once we repent and return to right relationship with the Lord and others.  

God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were in the garden that day.  He did not need to call out to them to learn of their mistake. Though they distanced themselves, He went in search of them. Like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to recover the one who has wandered away, so too does the Lord pursue us when we hide away from Him. And when He approaches, all we have to do is humbly surrender, and He will cover our shame and draw us once again into His loving arms. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Do you feel distant from the Lord today? Are there areas of your heart you are hiding from Him? I encourage you to take a look at the passages provided for further reading and see how God not only pursues us when we run away from Him, but also how He clothes and heals us when we return.  There is no need to hide. Return to Him. He is ready and waiting to embrace you today.

Further Reading:

Gen. 3

Matt 18:10-14

Luke 15:11-32

Have you ever tried to distance yourself from someone you&rsquo;ve wronged&mdash;dodging interactions, avoiding gatherings, or putting on a smile while hiding the discomfort inside? &ldquo;Are You Hiding?&rdquo; explores the spiritual tendency we all share: hiding from God when we know we've fallen short. Through the lens of Adam and Eve&rsquo;s story in Genesis, this devotional reminds us that God doesn&rsquo;t abandon us in our shame&mdash;He comes looking for us with love, not condemnation.
This message is for anyone who has drifted from God, avoided spiritual disciplines, or felt too ashamed to draw near again. God is not hiding from you&mdash;He&rsquo;s calling your name.
<hr data-start="1247" data-end="1250">
Highlights
<ul data-start="1268" data-end="1966">
<li data-start="1268" data-end="1367">
Hiding from God is a deeply human response to sin, rooted in fear and shame (Genesis 3:10).
</li>
<li data-start="1368" data-end="1503">
We may avoid Scripture, church, or prayer, thinking we can escape conviction&mdash;but God always sees us and still desires relationship.
</li>
<li data-start="1504" data-end="1621">
Even when we distance ourselves, God pursues us, calling out just as He did in the Garden: &ldquo;Where are you?&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="1622" data-end="1743">
Like the prodigal son (Luke 15), restoration comes not through hiding, but in returning with a surrendered heart.
</li>
<li data-start="1744" data-end="1866">
Fig leaves of distraction&mdash;our modern ways of covering sin&mdash;can&rsquo;t replace the healing power of repentance and grace.
</li>
<li data-start="1867" data-end="1966">
When we stop running and respond to God, He covers our shame with love, mercy, and forgiveness.
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
💬 Join the Conversation
Have you ever felt distant from God because of guilt or shame? What helped you find your way back?
📲 Tag <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lifeaudionetwork" data-start="2591" data-end="2654">@lifeaudionetwork</a> and share your story using #NoMoreFigLeaves. You never know who might find healing through your honesty.
🎙🎶&nbsp;SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW &mdash; <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/">Your Nightly Prayer</a>
🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Are You Hiding?
By Megan J. Conner
&ldquo;When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD&nbsp;God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD&nbsp;God among the trees.
Then the LORD&nbsp;God called to the man, &ldquo;Where are you?&rdquo;
He replied, &ldquo;I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.&rdquo;
Gen. 3:8-10 (NLT)
Can you recall a time when you purposely evaded someone because you had wronged or harmed them in some way? You decline invitations to events because you know they will be in attendance, or if being present together is unavoidable, you walk to the other side of the room when they arrive, pretending to be busy with an important task. Perhaps this individual is completely unaware of the offense you carry in your heart, so they continue to pursue relationship with you and are clearly confounded by your distance. It would be better in the long run to have the much-needed hard conversation and make amends, but fear holds you captive.&nbsp; At the moment, it feels easier to hide. But is it really?&nbsp;
Because we are created in God&rsquo;s image (Gen. 1:27) each and every one of us knows the difference between right and wrong. A measure of the Holy Spirit resides in every soul. Secular views coin this internal conviction as a conscience that measures and judges the motives of our hearts. Regardless of title or worldview, it is evident that humanity carries within them an organic sense of morality.&nbsp; Think of a child at a very young age who desires a toy or an object they have been told they cannot have. Even though they know they aren&rsquo;t supposed to have it, they will plot and plan a way to obtain it.&nbsp; And once they have it in their possession, what is the first thing they do? They run away and hide.&nbsp;
Child or adult, none of us is any different. For thousands of years, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when we willfully choose to sin, we separate ourselves from our Creator. We retreat; we go into hiding. Perhaps we stop reading our Bibles, stray away from godly relationships with others, or maybe even avoid attending church or other faith-based gatherings. Somehow, we deceive ourselves into believing this distance shields us from the knowing eyes of the Lord. But the truth is, we are only covering ourselves with fig leaves.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.&rdquo; Gen. 3:6-7 (NLT)
The allure of sin, paired with the deception of the enemy, convinces us that we should not only give in to the desires of our flesh, but that when we do, God is not aware of misgivings. Even further, we should run away from Him rather than towards Him. Similar to our relationships with others, if we avoid reconciliation, we will continue on in a state of unsettledness &ndash; of discomfort. Relief will only come once we repent and return to right relationship with the Lord and others.&nbsp;&nbsp;
God knew exactly where Adam and Eve were in the garden that day.&nbsp; He did not need to call out to them to learn of their mistake. Though they distanced themselves, He went in search of them. Like the shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to recover the one who has wandered away, so too does the Lord pursue us when we hide away from Him. And when He approaches, all we have to do is humbly surrender, and He will cover our shame and draw us once again into His loving arms.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Do you feel distant from the Lord today? Are there areas of your heart you are hiding from Him? I encourage you to take a look at the passages provided for further reading and see how God not only pursues us when we run away from Him, but also how He clothes and heals us when we return.&nbsp; There is no need to hide. Return to Him. He is ready and waiting to embrace you today.
Further Reading:
Gen. 3
Matt 18:10-14
Luke 15:11-32

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

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