Learning to Lovewell: W2 - WED
Love that Seeks (And the Sound of Love)
Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT) "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?'"
They heard God walking. This suggests that God's footsteps in the garden were a familiar sound. A sound they associated with joy, with fellowship, with the best part of their day. God wasn't just a distant creator, God was a regular companion who showed up consistently. But now, the same sound that once brought them running toward God sends them running away from God. The footsteps haven't changed. God hasn't changed. But their perception of God has been completely altered by shame and fear. Yet God keeps walking.
God doesn't wait for Adam to work up the courage to come out of hiding. God doesn't stand at a distance hoping Adam will eventually return. God actively seeks. God calls out. God takes the initiative to bridge the gap that sin and shame have created. "Where are you?" isn't about location, it's about relationships. It's God saying, "I know where you are physically. What I want to know is: where are we? What's happened to our connection? Why are you hiding from me?" This is the first picture we have of seeking love, and it becomes the pattern for every story of redemption that follows. The God who could have written humanity off after their first major failure instead becomes the God who seeks. The God who pursues. The God who won't let shame have the last word.
Think about the people in your life who are hiding right now. Maybe they're hiding behind busyness, behind anger, behind addictions, behind perfectionism. Maybe they've made choices that hurt you, and now they're too ashamed to face you. The natural human response is to wait for them to come back and apologize.
But God models a different way. God models love that seeks. Love that asks, "Where are you?" not as an accusation but as an invitation. Love that refuses to let shame create permanent distance. Love that takes the first step toward reconciliation. This doesn't mean we condone or enable destructive behavior or ignore the need for accountability. It means we lead with love rather than leading with judgment. It means we're more concerned with restoration than with being right.
Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT) "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?'"
They heard God walking. This suggests that God's footsteps in the garden were a familiar sound. A sound they associated with joy, with fellowship, with the best part of their day. God wasn't just a distant creator, God was a regular companion who showed up consistently. But now, the same sound that once brought them running toward God sends them running away from God. The footsteps haven't changed. God hasn't changed. But their perception of God has been completely altered by shame and fear. Yet God keeps walking.
God doesn't wait for Adam to work up the courage to come out of hiding. God doesn't stand at a distance hoping Adam will eventually return. God actively seeks. God calls out. God takes the initiative to bridge the gap that sin and shame have created. "Where are you?" isn't about location, it's about relationships. It's God saying, "I know where you are physically. What I want to know is: where are we? What's happened to our connection? Why are you hiding from me?" This is the first picture we have of seeking love, and it becomes the pattern for every story of redemption that follows. The God who could have written humanity off after their first major failure instead becomes the God who seeks. The God who pursues. The God who won't let shame have the last word.
Think about the people in your life who are hiding right now. Maybe they're hiding behind busyness, behind anger, behind addictions, behind perfectionism. Maybe they've made choices that hurt you, and now they're too ashamed to face you. The natural human response is to wait for them to come back and apologize.
But God models a different way. God models love that seeks. Love that asks, "Where are you?" not as an accusation but as an invitation. Love that refuses to let shame create permanent distance. Love that takes the first step toward reconciliation. This doesn't mean we condone or enable destructive behavior or ignore the need for accountability. It means we lead with love rather than leading with judgment. It means we're more concerned with restoration than with being right.
- Who in your life is hiding and needs to hear "Where are you?" from a place of love rather than judgment?
- How can you take the initiative to seek restoration rather than waiting for others to make the first move?
- What would change if you approached broken relationships with curiosity ("Where are you?") rather than accusations.
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