How do people find their way back into God’s will after they have departed from it? By the same path upon which they departed. There will inevitably be times when circumstances are so intimidating and discouraging that we are tempted to run as far away from them as we possibly can. While withdrawal can be a useful strategy for regaining perspective and strength, God does not intend for us to live or lead from a safe haven. At some point God will inevitably instruct us to rejoin the battle. When He does, He is likely to command us to return the same way we departed.
When we find we are no longer where God wants us to be, there is generally a point of departure. At some point we no longer trust God, or obey Him, or love Him as we should. It will be to that place God will make us return if we are to be restored. If it was a lack of faith that caused us to fall away, He will direct us to a place where we must trust Him. If it was an unwillingness to forgive, He will command us to return to the scene of our unforgiveness. If it was pride or greed or unkind words that caused us to depart from God’s will, He will not allow us to circumvent them. Instead, He will lead us to return and to overcome that which initially overwhelmed us. Just as Peter was made to confess his love for Christ three times after he had denied Him thrice, so God will bring us back to the place where we denied Him and invite us to make amends.
We can’t pick and choose which divine commands we will obey. We can’t present God with a selection of what we will and won’t do for Him. At some point God will inevitably make us return to our point of departure so we have a second chance to do things the way He intended. Have you departed in some way from God’s will for your life? If so, you can count on it. God has not forgotten. He has not overlooked it. He will bring you back to that place and give you another opportunity to honor Him with your life.