God desires for those who have wandered from Him, or strayed away to return to Him. God is not ready to strike us down, destroy us, or write us off. His heart is to redeem. To restore. He wants us to return to Him.
We get in the way of this return. Our pride, our insistence on doing things our way – feeling like we have power and control over everything we do or is done to us – prevent us from returning to our Father. We believe ourselves to be much more powerful, wise, and capable than we actually are, or were ever created to be! God did not create us to be gods. He created us to belong to, serve, and love Himself and one another. He did not design us for independence but dependence on Him.
Romans 3:23 reminds us that we are all sinners. We all fall short of God’s glory. We also know and for the most part understand that there are consequences to our sins. And still, despite the way we hurt our Father and our relationship with Him when we sin, our merciful God allows us to return, start again, and receive complete forgiveness.
God wants us to leave our lives of sin, and return to Him. He is ready to restore us. “O Israel,” says the LORD, “if you wanted to return to me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more. Then when you swear by my name saying, “As surely as the LORD lives,” you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise my name.” (Jeremiah 4:1-2)
When we return, just like a prodigal, God stands ready to receive and heal us. He is the master at creating beautiful things from that which are damaged or broken. We need only to humble our hearts and turn toward the Father.
Wherever you find yourself in life’s journey, if you are distanced from the Father – alone, broken, overwhelmed, confused, lost – it is time to make a change. “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)
When we seek the LORD, we will find Him. When we turn back to Him, He is merciful and gracious to receive and restore us. Yet God, in His goodness, will not force us. The decision is ours. We have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.
Blessings!