Get Real November 23 Devotional
November 23, 2024
GENESIS 3:7-10 | 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. 8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the
garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid
myself.”
The fall, or deliberate rebellion of Adam and Eve in the garden, introduces shame and guilt and deception into human hearts and relationships. There is a new defensiveness and a loss of innocence. Some of this is simply down to communication breakdown. Adam and Eve do not discuss the momentous choice to defy God. Nor do they talk over the serpent’s views with their loving Creator.
Many problems in marriage result from insufficient or ineffective communication. Yesterday’s meditation on the essential mystery of the human person should be a spur to conversation and questions. Instead, we often assume we can intuit others’ feelings or we become reactive before we’ve really understood our partner’s words or behavior. Sometimes fear of conflict means we avoid hard topics and just go forward without discussion. It is hard for Eve to confront God over the question of human capacity for Eve and difficult for Adam to question her judgement.
What are your best practices for communication?
