When I was a child, I had really long and beautiful hair. I was a pretty girl, and everyone picked me. I was also creative — I loved singing, dancing, and performing. I even took part in music and dance competitions at school and once presented before the president.
Back then, I wasn’t afraid to shine. I lived boldly and openly, never dimming my light.
But then something shifted. I developed a disease on my scalp that left wounds all over my head. The doctor asked me to cut my hair and apply gentian violet (GV) daily. Overnight, I went from being the girl with long, beautiful hair to the girl no one wanted to associate with.
One day, I was even told not to join the singing and dancing competitions anymore because I would “embarrass them.” I wasn’t “pretty enough.” That was the moment I started to hide.
And as life went on, other situations reinforced that shame. Slowly, I began living in the shadows, minding my own business. I even convinced myself it was biblical — “didn’t the Lord say we should mind our own business?” But deep down, I knew I wasn’t being the light God called me to be.
The Enemy’s Strategy to Steal
Later in my journey, while working through Jamie Winship’s teaching on discovering identity, the Lord revealed something to me: “You are a healer and an influencer.”
That’s exactly what the enemy tried to steal from me. Through a wound on my head, shame was planted, and I began to shrink.
And isn’t that what the enemy does? He uses wounds — whether physical, emotional, or spiritual — to steal our identity, our purpose, and even our future.
Even you, dear friend, may have wounds the enemy has tried to use to silence your light.
The First Hiding: Adam and Eve
Hiding is not new. The very first people God created did the same.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lived openly in God’s presence, fully themselves, fully free. But when sin entered, the Bible says:
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves… And the man and his wife hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”
— Genesis 3:7–8
Sin brought shame, and shame made them hide.
Why We Hide: A Psychological View
From a psychological perspective, wounds — whether caused by sin, rejection, trauma, or shame — threaten our sense of worth and belonging. The human brain quickly learns to avoid pain by retreating. Hiding becomes a defense mechanism.
But the same walls that protect us from pain also block us from connection, creativity, and calling.
When we hide, we might feel safe, but we also live small. We silence the very gifts God gave us to shine.
God’s Call: Step Into the Light
Jesus said:
“No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
— Matthew 5:15
Your life — scars, imperfections, and all — is meant to shine. God is not asking for perfection; He’s asking for authenticity. Even your wounds can become ministry when you allow His healing light to flow through them.
Reflection Questions
- What “wounds” in your past caused you to start hiding?
- Where in your life today do you still feel tempted to shrink back?
- What would it look like for you to step fully into the light God has called you to?
A Prayer for You
Lord, I lift up every person reading this. Shine Your healing light into their wounds. Break the power of shame and fear. Remind them of who they are — chosen, beloved, and called. Give them courage to step out of hiding and live boldly as the light of the world. Amen.
🌱 Friend, don’t let wounds or shame define you. Don’t let the enemy steal your light. Like me, you may have spent years hiding, but today God is calling you out.
Stop hiding. Become who God fully called you to be.