“Therefore, He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” “See then that you walk circumspectly not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:14-17/NKJV/emphasis added).

Sometimes it’s difficult to return to things.

• It’s tough to return to work after a restful vacation.
• Remember returning to high school after being off for summer break? You never knew what friends would be in your classes and what the teachers would be like.
• Also daunting to return to a friendship after hurtful things happen.

It has been grueling for me to return to writing. I love to write, and I believe God has put messages in my heart, but my son who has medical issues had a huge setback and even a week-long hospitalization. There have been weeks of aftercare and recovery. God would bring something to my heart while I was studying the Bible in the morning and I wanted to rush and begin writing, but then a phone call, an outcry from my son, an obligation, or another interruption would halt me from proceeding.

I praise God that my son has improved and I have time to get back into writing sharing the wonders of God in my life. I also started a new habit tracker (yes, before New Years!), to make sure I was taking full advantage of the hours in a day!

Besides being challenging returning to responsibilities, there are also things that leave and never return:

• Words spoken or not spoken at the right time.
• Opportunities missed.
• Chances to forgive or to ask for forgiveness before someone dies.
• Wasted hours doing something not beneficial for your mental state.

There is only one thing in the world that is truly easy to return to. You might not think so, but the reality is that it is easy to return to God when you have sinned, walked away for years, or have been angry with Him. Like the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), God is waiting with open arms to take us back.

There are other reasons that we walk away from God. Some of us don’t want to do what God asks us to do, like Jonah (Jonah 1-3). I can tell you from experience that I would rather be in God’s will and walk with Him through the hard stuff than be without God doing what pleases me. The latter is a temporary pleasure. The first is done for eternity and brings Glory to God.

God is a redeeming God. He has taken all the past things I did wrong, things that others did offensive to me, and turned those around to empower me to encourage others who have been in similar tragic circumstances. Our Redeemer can redeem, restore, reclaim, and rescue you and use your experience to give you a joyful, purposeful life.

Wouldn’t you rather bring light and hope to someone’s life rather than spend all day watching the blue screen light that doesn’t bring you real joy? Instead, the things you view on the visual display both on the phone and television screen become suffocating to your creativity, visions, and calling. You may feel joy for the moment, but it quickly dissipates.

If you feel that you have run too far to turn around, engaged in too many bad things to have hope, or committed yourself to an irreversible course, you couldn’t be further from the truth.

• Saul persecuted Christians (Acts 9).
• David committed adultery (2 Samuel 12).
• Peter denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62).

Christ forgave, restored, and used their lives for amazing journeys.

Turn around…

Return…

Be redeemed…

Jesus is calling you and waiting for you to return or join Him for the first time.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Our Redeemer can rescue the lost. It’s time you returned.