3 Questions for When You Feel Distant From God
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’
He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’ And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’”
Have you ever read something over and over again, and yet every time, something new jumps out at you?
That’s how I feel about Genesis 3.
Although this passage isn’t the finest hour for mankind, it reveals how God is always the same. On Ep. 203, Cara and I dive into how God addresses sin with Adam and Eve—and restores His relationship with them.
Hiding From the Un-Hideable
After Adam and Eve sin, they hear God walking in the garden. How do they respond? They hide.
This part of the story is almost comical, but it drives me crazy. I just want to grab them and go, where are you hiding? You’re the only two people in the world!
What did they think was going to happen? Did they really believe they could hide from the all-knowing God?
They had covered their naked bodies with fig leaves, but they might as well have had a neon sign over their heads flashing: “Here I am! Here I am!” Did they really think God wouldn’t notice their sin?
And yet, we do the same thing today. Just like Adam and Eve, we run, cover, and avoid.
We hide in our homes, environment, or responsibilities. Sometimes, we even hide behind our children. We let guilt and shame distort the way we see ourselves, others, and even God.
The Further We Stray, The More Foolish We Become
This passage reminds me that the further we move away from God, the more foolish we act. The serpent told Eve that eating the fruit would make them wise, but the moment they ate, they became spiritually blind. They didn’t get wiser; they got dumber.
God is the source of all wisdom, and when we distance ourselves from Him, we make poor decisions. Look around—this plays out every day in our world. The more we remove God from our lives, the more chaotic and confused we become.
God’s Response to Sin
When God calls out to Adam and Eve, He asks three crucial questions. These questions are more than just dialogue—they are God leading us to repentance and restoration.
1. Where are you?
God wasn’t confused about their location or playing hide and seek. He knew exactly where they were—physically, spiritually, relationally, and emotionally. But He wanted them to recognize where they were in their hearts.
We need to ask ourselves, “Where am I?” When we feel distant from God, overwhelmed by shame, or stuck in unhealthy patterns—where are we really? Hiding? Running? Are we pretending everything is fine while inside we feel lost?
2. What have you done?
This isn’t condemnation, but an opportunity for confession. Until we acknowledge our sin, we can’t be free from it. You don’t just fall into temptation. You choose.
We often try to cover it up or blame others—just like Adam and Eve did. Adam blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. But God wanted them to own up to it.
We can’t be healed if we refuse to admit we’re sick. God desires honesty. He already knows what we’ve done, but He invites us to be real with Him so He can restore us.
3. Who told you that?
This is one of the most profound questions in Scripture. Who told you that you were naked? In other words, who have you been listening to?
Satan is the father of lies, and he distorts our identity. He tells us we are not enough, that we are unworthy, that we are beyond redemption. But God never said those things.
If we believe those lies, we will see ourselves through the lens of guilt, shame, and sin, instead of through the truth of God’s love and redemption. When we hear words of shame, fear, or despair in our hearts, we must ask: Who told me that? Because if it’s not from God, it’s not the truth.
The Spiritual Battle
From Genesis 3 onward, there has been a war between God and Satan. And here’s the thing: you cannot fight a spiritual battle with human logic.
So, what do we do when we feel distant from God? How do we stop hiding and start healing?
Ask yourself the three questions—Where am I spiritually? What have I done that needs confessing? And what lies am I believing?
Use spiritual weapons—Prayer, the Word of God, and truth are our defense against the enemy’s lies.
Remember that God pursues you—He didn’t abandon Adam and Eve, and He won’t abandon you.
The Path Back to Redemption
The beauty of Genesis 3 is God’s relentless pursuit of His people. Even in their failure, God pursued Adam and Eve. He didn’t leave them in their shame. Instead, He provided them with garments—symbolizing His covering, His grace, His plan for redemption.
God does the same for us. Jesus is our covering. He is the ultimate answer to our sin and shame. While Satan was cast out without a chance for redemption, humanity was given grace. Why? Because we were created in God’s image, and He made a way for us to be redeemed through Christ.
If you’re struggling with the enemy’s lies today, let God’s truth pull you back into His presence, because He’s already looking for you.
For Jesus Always,
Dot