Sunday Devotional: Haircut Hide and Seek

When I was a kid, I loved spending time with my dad. On warm summer Sundays, we’d load up the canoe and head to Waubascon Lake. We’d paddle across the water and up the creek as far as we could go. After a day of working in the yard, the whole family would pile into our old Buick station wagon and head out for ice cream sundaes. On Saturday nights, if nothing else was going on, we’d play mini-golf at the local Putt-Putt or go bowling at Richland Lanes just a few miles from home.

I loved when my dad called my name and said it was time for our next adventure.

But when he pulled out his barber kit and announced it was haircut time, I felt something very different—fear.

My dad only knew how to give one kind of haircut: the buzz cut. And I hated it. All my friends had longer hair that hung over their ears. I just wanted to look like everyone else. I was tired of the teasing and the jokes at school.

So, when my dad called my name with the clippers in hand, I would run and hide—sometimes in the closet, under the dining room table, even in the garage. Anywhere I could escape the dreaded buzz cut.

But my dad always came looking. He never gave up until he found me.

And that’s where our journey into the heart of God begins.

In Genesis 1 and 2, God creates Adam and Eve to be His forever friends. He places them in a beautiful garden and walks with them every evening. Hearing God’s footsteps was their favorite part of the day. But one day, they chose to ignore what God had told them. It wasn’t just about eating a piece of fruit—they chose to walk away from their best friend.

Suddenly, they felt shame, fear, and regret. And when they heard God’s footsteps in the garden that night, instead of running to Him like before, they ran away and hid.

This is where we see the first picture of God’s grace. What does God do when His children are hiding? Does He yell? Does He storm off in anger?

No. Instead, we hear these gentle words echo through the garden in Genesis 3:9:
“Where are you?”

God comes looking for His lost children. He doesn’t give up. He doesn’t walk away. He finds them, speaks to them gently, and promises that one day, everything will be made right again.

When you're feeling lost or hiding—no matter how afraid or ashamed you feel—God always comes looking. And when He finds you, He doesn't give you a buzz cut. He gives you grace, compassion, and love.

So this week, as we learn more about who God is, maybe it’s time to stop hiding. Come out from under the table. Step out of the garage. And let your Heavenly Father take you on the next great adventure with Him.

Discussion Questions

         • Have you ever tried to hide from something or someone? What happened?

         • Why do you think Adam and Eve were afraid of God after they sinned?

         • How does it make you feel to know that God comes looking for you when you're afraid or ashamed?