Intimacy Seekers by Nessa Esh

Love is beautiful, it’s exhilarating, it’s orgasmic but love is also painful. It hurts. And when it hurts, it hurts deep. Well, two years ago, Mona’s husband had traveled. She felt alone and was craving for some TLC, tender loving care. She met this guy at Walmart, a grocery store. She was looking for some napkins, and he was looking for some utensils. Somehow their eyes met, and in her vulnerability to feel loved and be held, she … gave him her contact information. She was feeling alone. She had needs as some people would say. Her body was yearning for what she subconsciously knew would be damaging to her soul and her relationship. He called her that evening, came over and… as they were intertwined in the sheets, she heard the front door open. Gripped with fear, she told the Walmart man, “please get under the bed”, and so as he hid, she tried to hurry in the closet to put something on and that’s when her husband opened the bedroom door. He found her naked.  She was so ashamed. She tried to play it off but her husband could tell what had just happened. She had betrayed his love, his trust and had broken the relationship they once held dear. 

How many times has God found us naked? His bride, his beloved, his church. You thought I was telling you a story about Mona. No… I was reminding you of our love story with God.  We all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. God is our bridegroom and we are His church. Whether God found us angry and bitter towards a loved one, or using “white” lies to protect ourselves, or simply getting back at others for hurting us. No one has a clean slate. We all have slipped.  I am just grateful that every time God has found me naked, although He disciplined me, He gave me another chance to make it right with Him. When Adam and Eve sinned, God found them in their naked state, no longer covered by His glory but covered with shame. They were using leaves to cover themselves. But the leaves were not enough and could not remove the stench of sin. The more you look for things to cover up sin, the worse it stinks. Sin is repulsive and deadly. The bible says in Genesis 3:21, “The Lord God made tunics of [animal] skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” An animal had to die because of Adam and Eve’s sin. For them to live, something had to die. Have you ever wondered how many things we have allowed to die in our lives because of our selfish nature to satisfy our sinful desires? Our relationship with God? Our relationships with others? Our businesses? Our destiny? Our calling? Every time we sin, there is an exchange. The enemy never tells us how much sinning would cost us. Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, an animal’s life was sacrificed. 

I don’t know about you. But I have been Mona many times. I have laid in bed with the enemy of my soul, my destiny, my posterity. On many occasions, I have deliberately rejected God just to fulfill my own selfish desires. That’s why I cannot judge Mona, Adam or Eve. Our flesh has its own cravings. Although the enemy is seeking ways to destroy us, as his mission statement is to kill, to steal and to destroy, God has given us power to overcome the flesh.  He does not want us to deliberately continue to live a life of sin. The bible says in Galatians 5: 16-17, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…” Walking by the Spirit is the only way to overcome the flesh and its desires. 

Our God is a relentless lover. He does not abandon us in our fallen state, as He did not abandon Adam and Eve, or Mona, or you and I. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God gave Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, the lamb without spot or blemish, so that we can have life in His name. It’s important to know that although God has forgiven us of our wrong doing when we repent, He will sometimes let us deal with the consequences of our actions. Or else, where is the love? How would we grow and mature in Him? Discipline is also an expression of God’s love. 

Ignorantly, When I was young in the faith, I used to think that when I pray, God will remove temptations out of my life. As I matured, I understood that He often does not remove the temptation but empowers us through His Spirit to subdue our flesh and make the right choice. God wants us to choose Him. A friend of mine said to me, “temptations do not stop after you get married but you will have to choose your spouse every time you are faced with a temptation.” In the same way, God wants us to choose Him when faced with sin. God is not looking for a bride that wears a white gown on a filthy body. He wants both the inner and outer content to be pure and holy before Him. Father, as much our flesh yearns for the things of the world and its lustful desires, let our spirit yearn for a consecrated life and a deep relationship with You.

Well, you want to know what happened to Mona? What did her husband do? He was angry, He was hurt but He washed her with his word, reminding her of who she is and not only what she had done. God is very good at disciplining us when we do wrong. That’s a father’s love. But He also cannot resist our repentant hearts towards Him when we come in humility and acknowledge our wrongs and do better. It’s true that we have an enemy but we also have an ally and if God is with us, who or what can stand against us. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us including overcoming the desires of our flesh and resisting the enemy of our soul. So, my last question: When was the last time God caught you naked and what did you do about it?

Meditation Verses

Romans 3:23–24 (NKJV) – We all need grace

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 32:5 (NKJV) – Stop hiding and confess

“I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

Galatians 6:1 (NKJV) – How to respond when others fall

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

John 3:16 (NKJV) – He loves you
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Reflection Questions

1. What am I struggling with that I need to stop hiding, minimizing, or covering and honestly bring before God?
2. When someone else falls or fails me, do I respond with judgment, or can I remember the grace and mercy God has shown me in my own failures?
3. How can I extend both truth and love to someone who has fallen, without excusing what they did or defining them by their mistake?

Prayer

Father, thank You that I never have to hide from You. You know my struggles, weaknesses, and failures, yet You still invite me to come close. Give me the courage to be honest with You and to surrender the areas of my life that need Your help.

When others fall or fail me, remind me of the grace You have shown me. Keep me from judging others while forgetting how many times I have needed Your mercy. Help me to love without excusing what is wrong, speak truth without condemning, and see people beyond their mistakes.

When I fall, draw me back to You. When others fall, teach me to love them well.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you for spending this time with me in God’s Word.  I’d love to hear what spoke to you, so leave a comment below. And if this encouraged you, share it with someone who may need it too.

Let’s keep seeking Him together.

With love,
Nessa