“You have to taste my mud soup!” I shouted to my father as we drove home one day after school. When we arrived home, I hopped out of the car, grabbed all the utensils I needed, and ran to the door heading to the backyard. Just before I stepped out of the door, my dad stopped me and said, “Just remember, don’t touch the leaves in the pot sitting by the door. Those leaves have small thorns even if you can’t see them.” I nodded yes and ran outside full of excitement. 

I began to collect my ingredients: dirt, water, flowers, rocks, and my secret ingredient, a hint of leaf. “But it can’t be just any leaf. This leaf has to be special,” I said to myself with an Italian accent. My eyes scanned the entire yard, but none grabbed my attention like the leaves in the pot by the door. I crawled on the floor towards the leaves, peeked to make sure no one was watching, and, seeing that the coast was clear, I snatched a leaf. Suddenly, there was an irritating pinch all over my fingers and palms. I dropped the leaf and began to sob quietly because I was too afraid for my dad to hear me. I sat in a corner outside trying to take the matter into my own hands by scratching the prickles off with my other hand, but I only made it worse because I wasn’t able to see them. At the corner of my eye, I saw Dad walking toward me. I hid my hands under my legs and avoided eye contact with him, but he stooped down and asked the question I know every parent has asked: “What did you do?” Even though he knew exactly what I had done. 

Thinking about my response to my dad’s question reminded me of when Adam and Eve hid from the Lord after their sin in the Garden of Eden. God asked Eve, “What did you do?” with the same tone as my dad’s voice, I think. Instead of destroying Adam and Eve, the Lord was merciful and full of grace. This same God is for us too.

When we sin, the enemy burdens us with shame and guilt, making us feel trapped. However, as Jesus-followers we are already freed from the power of sin through His sacrifice on the cross.

Despite the lies the enemy tells us, leaving us feeling unworthy or hopeless, the truth is that nothing is beyond the Lord's redemption. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! (Romans 8:1).

If we are struggling with sin, we may initially resist seeking forgiveness, preferring to hide. Yet, the path to forgiveness requires confession, as stated in 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When God forgives, He sees us as clean – He does not see our sin. Forgiveness is readily available from God. We have no reason to hide.

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