Still Waters Devotional
Take Off the Fig Leaves
3 min read
Scripture
"But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'" — Genesis 3:9
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true... think about such things." — Philippians 4:8
The first mask in human history wasn't made of fabric. It was made of fig leaves.
The moment shame entered the Garden, Adam and Eve covered themselves. Not because God asked them to — but because shame convinced them that being fully seen had suddenly become dangerous. So they covered themselves and hid from God.
Sound familiar?
Maybe your fig leaves don't look like theirs. Maybe yours look like strength. Busyness. Perfection. People-pleasing. Humor. Competence. Maybe you've become so accustomed to wearing your mask that you hardly notice it's there.
But God did something remarkable that day. He came walking in the cool of the garden and asked a question He already knew the answer to.
"Where are you?"
It wasn't a question about geography. It was a question about relationship. An invitation — come out of hiding. Return to Me.
That is still the question the Shepherd is asking you today. Not "How are you holding everything together?" or "Are you doing enough?" But simply…
Where are you? Where is your heart?
Philippians 4:8 tells us to dwell on whatever is true. The truest thing about you isn't the mask you've learned to wear, or the roles you fill, or the expectations you've carried, or your failures.
The truest thing about you is that God says you were created in His image — deeply known, deeply loved, and deeply pursued by Him.
When sin taught humanity to hide, God didn't abandon Adam and Eve in the Garden. He came looking for them. The Gospel is the beautiful story of God continuing that pursuit. Jesus came to do what fig leaves never could. He covered our shame. He carried our sin. He opened the way back into the Father's presence.
"He restores my soul." — Psalm 23:3
Perhaps that's why He asks "Where are you?" — not because He has lost you, but because He longs to meet you exactly where you are.
Today, you don't have to pretend or perform. The Shepherd isn't waiting for the polished version of you. He's calling His beloved daughter — the one beneath the fig leaves.
Come home.
Reflection Questions:
1. What "fig leaves" have you been wearing lately — and what have they been protecting you from?
*2.** As you sit quietly with the Shepherd today, where do you sense Him asking *"Where are you?"
3. What would it look like to answer Him honestly — not with the version you've been managing, but with your whole heart?
Prayer:
Shepherd of my soul,
Thank You for coming after me when I hide. Thank You that You are never intimidated by my fears, my shame, or the masks I've learned to wear. Teach me to trust that I am fully known and fully loved by You.
Lead me beside still waters. Restore the places in me that have learned to survive instead of abide. Help me to lay down every fig leaf and every false identity until I find my rest in You alone.
Today, I answer Your question. Here I am. Unapologetically Yours.
Amen.
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul..." — Psalm 23:2–3 (KJV)
Garden Living Devotionals | Still Waters