‘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.”’ Genesis 3:8-10(NLT)
‘This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord , have spoken!’ Jeremiah 9:23-24(NLT)
‘This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell. That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ 2 Corinthians 12:1-10(NLT)
Scripture: Genesis 3:8–10; Jeremiah 9:23–24; 2 Corinthians 12:1–10
Imagine a couple who looks like they have the perfect marriage. Here’s a secret: they don’t have it all figured out. Everyone is in need of deeper fellowship, cleansing from unrighteousness, and help with walking in the light.
Recognizing your own human need for validation is the first step in having an honest life that not only acknowledges but also actually boasts in your weakness so that Christ’s power may be made more vivid. As Paul said:
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
—2 Corinthians 12:9
If we’re honest, the real struggle is admitting we’re imperfect in a way that truly reveals our deep need for a Savior and for unconditional love.
Yet God is most glorified in us when He shines most brightly through us. We are created for a see-through life, and every sanctifying experience on this side of eternity is meant to root out, work out, and heal our impurities—all so that we may transmit God’s light more brightly and more vividly.
Our tendency as fallen people is to hide or pretend—we feel safer that way. Just like Adam and Eve in the garden, we feel exposed and ashamed, so we hide (or attempt to hide) from God and others.
To human eyes, our hiding doesn’t always look obvious. In fact, we live most opaquely not by running away and avoiding others in some blatant act of moral rebellion. Rather, we hide in the open by camouflaging our true selves and posturing in ways we believe will make us more lovable.
The problem is that hiding has the opposite effect. Instead of feeling more loved, we feel more lost. Instead of feeling more accepted, we feel more alone. That’s because human beings are not wired for hiding. The very act grates against the reality God created for us in the garden—to be naked and unashamed, known and still loved, totally exposed and perfectly protected.
You were designed to live in vulnerable fellowship with God, your spouse, and others. There is too much good on the other side of transparency to live without it.
In what ways do you hide from your spouse or others to try to appear more lovable?
from See-Through Marriage by Ryan and Selena Frederick