Genesis 3:8-10 NLV; Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening. The man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the Lord God called to the man. He said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰ And the man said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden. I was afraid because I was without clothes. So I hid myself.”

Picture this, if you will, every day, God the Father would come to the Garden to walk and talk with Adam. It was a long standing appointment just to enjoy each others company. They could have been talking about anything at all, but the thought of strolling through the garden with Father thrills me. They were friends. I think of my own daughters and the fun we have together, sharing God, talking about His faithfulness, sharing stories of the grand kids, laughing about this and that, walking the beach together, talking about everything and nothing at all. 

Then on a day just like any other day, God comes down to find Adam and calls his name but can’t find him. “Adam, where are you?” Like the game we used to play when we were children, hide and seek, but this was no game, was it. Adam peeks from behind the tree he is hiding and said the saddest words ever heard, “I heard you coming and I was afraid.” Can you even imagine the loss? I’m sure we’ve all experienced similar woundings in our lifetime. Phoning a friend who refuses your call and you have no idea what has happened to ruin such a beautiful friendship. Why is it that satan goes after the voices in our lives that cause us to grow and mature? What is he so afraid of.

So God has tried all these years to speak to us, to spend time communing with us and enjoying fellowship with us but we’re afraid. He just wants to be our friend, but we’re too busy. He longs to lead us into all truth, to guide us along the steep cliffs and rocky paths, to make our way prosperous and give us good success, but we won’t take the time to meet with him just once a day. He’s left us a book to read about himself, yet we’re too occupied with our jobs and ministries, our children and their social events to include him. We simply don’t have time. In hopes of creating a need for Him, he allows trials and events to pressure us into calling out to Him, but instead we shake our fists and call Him a liar.

Oh Father, for all the distractions, the busyness, the navigating of life without you, I’m so sorry! I don’t want a day to go by without walking and talking with you. What a giant waste of time my life has been. Only the time in your presence has been of any value. You said that your sheep hear your voice and another they will not follow? Well here is one sheep who will follow you and hear your voice. Please forgive my waywardness, my stubbornness, my lack of focus. My heart cries out to you, come and be with me. I will not leave this place until I hear your voice. I love you my Father. “I love you my daughter. Come to me. Let me take your heavy burdens and give you my rest.”