How did I get here?
Sometimes we don’t notice how far we’ve wandered until we look back. Life gets busy. Disappointments come. We make choices we regret. Perhaps we stop praying, stop studying, or stop gathering with other Christians.
For some, the distance grows gradually. For others, something happens that causes them to turn away.
Whatever brought you here, perhaps you’re asking yourself, “How do I find my way back?”
God hasn’t forgotten you.
Jesus told of a young man in Luke 15 who left his father, wasted his inheritance, and eventually found himself in desperate circumstances. When he finally decided to return, he discovered something remarkable: his father was watching for him.
Luke 15:20 describes the father’s reaction: “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (NKJV)
The son had made serious mistakes, but his father welcomed his return.
That’s a beautiful picture of God’s willingness to receive those who turn back to Him.
Coming home begins with turning around.
Coming back to God involves more than wishing things were different. Scripture calls us to repent—to turn away from sin and turn toward God.
Repentance doesn’t mean we can undo every mistake. It means acknowledging where we’ve gone wrong and choosing a different direction.
And God’s promise is reassuring: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” — 1 John 1:9
We don’t have to pretend we haven’t wandered. We need to be willing to return.
You don’t have to make the journey alone.
God didn’t intend Christians to face every struggle alone. In fact, Galatians 6:1–2 teaches Christians to help restore those who have stumbled and to bear one another’s burdens.
Also, James 5:19-20 reminds us of the importance of helping someone turn back from error. The church is meant to be a family that encourages, strengthens, and helps restore those who have stumbled.
At Central, we know Christians aren’t perfect people. We all need God’s grace, and sometimes we need a brother or sister to help us find our footing again.
You don’t have to arrive with everything figured out.
Your next step can begin today.
Perhaps you’ve been away from worship for years, made decisions you regret, or wondered whether you could ever feel close to God again.
In Jesus’ parable, the father welcomed his son when he recognized his sin and returned. You can begin that journey today.
We’d be glad to listen, study God’s Word with you, pray with you, or simply encourage you along the way.