Have you strayed from God? Do you feel as though you are wondering aimlessly? Are you considering returning to Him? Are you wondering if He has forgotten you? Do you want to cry out to ask Him?
There are some of us who have strayed from God, perhaps for several years, and we have returned. There are some who have strayed and have yet to return. Straying is not that uncommon. In fact, we know it is one of the problems facing the church today.
The church is not the only one to face this issue. Israel faced it on multiple occasions throughout their history. God had provided for them on many occasions, sometimes on a daily basis. Still, they grumbled and walked away from God.
Too often we read their history and wonder how they could disobey God. Yet, we read hundreds and even thousands of years of their history within just a few minutes without the perspective of living their lives on a daily basis. As we live our lives daily, what will be our excuse a hundred years from now when someone reads our history?
It is in our daily lives, our moment-by-moment decisions, that we leave God behind. We decide that “just this one time won’t hurt” and take a step away from Him. We think, “I’ll make it up later” assuming we have years to make up for doing something we shouldn’t, and believing God has a scale that balances our good versus the bad.
Yet, we would be wrong in either case. It is by God’s grace that He accepts us. Our desire to cry out to Him is just what we need. Much as the Israelites cried out when they realized they were wrong we need to cry out to God.
Some of us may feel as though God has left us, abandoned us. We want to cry out to ask why. If we feel that way, we should cry out. Ask God to come back into our lives. When we cry out to God with an earnest heart, He will answer. God waits patiently for us.
I pray we all cry out to God during this advent season. I pray we ask Him to remember our needs and fulfill them. I pray each one of us will remember to take God with us each day. Cry out to God. Ask God to come into your life. Carry Him with you each day. Ask Him to guide your decisions.
Lamentations 5:19-22
You, Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures from generation to generation.
Why do you always forget us?
Why do you forsake us so long?
Restore us to yourself, Lord, that we may return;
renew our days as of old
unless you have utterly rejected us
and are angry with us beyond measure.
Marty Pressey 