Naked but Covered

The Garden of Eden Do you feel ashamed? Have you not forgiven yourself for mistakes you’ve made? Maybe you have not forgiven yourself for a family crisis, poor stewardship of what God has given, or perhaps a hurtful friendship situation? Maybe you have not forgiven yourself in your marriage or with your children. Whatever you feel ashamed about remember that Adam and Eve were ashamed when they realized they were naked (Genesis 3). The enemy deceived Eve, she and her husband ate the fruit of the tree that the Lord forbid in the creation of Adam. The Lord told Adam he could eat from any tree in the garden but that he must not eat or touch the tree of knowledge of good and evil or else he would perish (Genesis 2:16-17). Isn’t it interesting how God gives us all that we need and even some of our desires but our hearts are still in search for more? We crave as human beings to experience more. Wanting more and moving according to our own desires causes us to end up feeling ashamed and naked in the eyes of the Lord. We are humbled by our decisions and selfish pursuits once we realize the destruction of our actions.

We bring chaos into our lives and then we mourn over the result. Nevertheless, God is a just God and a loving Father. Though he chastises his children when we fall short, he also corrects us to the right path. No matter how much your children make mistakes, you love them, you correct them, and you still position them in life to succeed. God wants us to succeed. So even though sin entered the world during the time of Adam and Eve’s mistake—God’s sovereign plan saves us from ourselves. God protects us with open arms and offers us shelter in our time of need. He gives us a place of refuge through the gospel of Christ. The Lord gives us cover, a place to retreat, a place of protection. Adam and Eve hid themselves by sewing fig leaves together when they were naked (Genesis 3:7). When God approached them to make them answer to what they had done, he corrected them, he told them how their lives would change now that they knew sin. However, the Lord does something before he banishes Adam from the Garden of Eden, he clothed Adam and his wife (Genesis 3:21).

How to Heal What is Broken in Me?

If you are having a hard time forgiving yourself for the place that you have entered, know that God is waiting to clothe you. He forgives you and he love you. Yes, life may look a bit different now and somethings simply may not go back to the way they were. But peace is in the covering of the Lord. Finding joy and love again are in the covering of the Lord. Forgiveness is in the covering of the Lord. Whatever it is that feels too big for you, if it is weighing you down and you can’t seem to find your happiness again, its because you are naked and you’re hiding behind fig leaves that you have tried to sew together for protection. Maybe you need to seek the Lord at this time and accept his covering. When you desperately desire to forge your own way and seek more, remember:

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord. Be strong, and let you heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

He will guide you, he will direct your path, he will heal all that is broken.

Prayer Heavenly Father thank you for your correcting love. A love that does not desire for me to perish but for me to be corrected. Father forgive me where I have not been a good steward in my life of that which you blessed me with and desiring more. Help me to live contently with what you offer knowing that it is more than enough. Father help me to forgive myself and to stop punishing myself for my mistakes. Thank you for your grace and your mercy though not deserving. Father I ask that right now I may be released from my shame and take refuge in you. Cover me Lord God that I may walk according to your perfect plan. Father touch the hearts of those in my life where difficulty has come upon us, help us grow from here and to forgive one another as you have forgiven us. Heal my family, my friends, my work environments and any other place where the enemy plants himself seeking destruction. ~ Amen