In the beginning, it was good.
Not just okay. Not “good enough.” Genesis 1:31 says, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”
The light, the waters, the trees heavy with fruit, and then us, made in His image and placed in a garden He planted with His own hands. Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day. Nothing to hide. Nothing to fix. Nothing to prove.
And then came one bite.
It always starts with a question
The serpent didn’t show up with a pitchfork. He showed up with a question: “Yea, hath God said…?”
That’s still how it works, isn’t it? The enemy rarely tells us to walk away from God. He just whispers little doubts. Did God really mean that? Is He really holding out on you? Wouldn’t you be happier doing it your way?
One lie believed, one bite taken, and suddenly the two people who had never known shame were sewing fig leaves and diving into the bushes.
Can we be real about our fig leaves?
I’ve hidden in a few bushes myself. Maybe you have too.
Our fig leaves just look different now. Staying busy so we don’t have to be still. Saying “I’m fine” when we’re not. Skipping church because we don’t want anyone to see us. Scrolling instead of praying because we’re afraid of what God might say.
We hide because we think He’s coming to yell.
“Where art thou?”
But look at what God actually did:
“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day… And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”
Genesis 3:8–9
He knew exactly where they were. He’s God. That question wasn’t for His benefit. It was an invitation to come out.
And even as He walked them through the consequences, Genesis 3:21 says He made them coats of skins and clothed them Himself. He didn’t leave them in their flimsy fig leaves. He covered them. That’s a God who comes looking to restore, not to shame.
Psalm 1 shows us the way back
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly… But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither.”
Psalm 1:1–3
It’s almost like Psalm 1 is the answer to Genesis 3:
Watch whose voice you’re listening to. Eve’s trouble started with bad counsel. Notice what voices are pulling you away and turn the volume down.
Soak in His Word. Not as a chore. As a delight. Even a few verses with your morning coffee is planting yourself by the water.
Stay planted. Trees don’t grow overnight. Fruit comes in its season. If you feel dry right now, that doesn’t mean you’re dead. It means keep your roots by the river.
A journal prompt for this week
“One fig leaf I’ve been hiding behind lately is…”
“If God asked me ‘Where are you?’ today, my honest answer would be…”
He’s not done with your garden. The same God who walked in Eden is still walking toward you, still calling your name, still ready to cover you.
If you’re having a hard time hearing Him through all the noise, Still, Small Voice will help you learn to recognize His voice again.
And if you’re ready to plant yourself by the water one day at a time, Grace Unfolding is my year-long Bible reading journal, made for real life. Use code GRACE20 at checkout.
Come find me on Instagram at @mommajscozycottage. I’d love to hear where God found you hiding.
With so much love,
Momma J 🤍
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