Coming Back to God: Steps to Renew Your Faith

Coming to God involves understanding stories like the Prodigal Son’s return, embracing true repentance, knowing God welcomes us back with joy, and committing to grow through prayer, community, and scripture.

Have you ever felt like you’ve drifted too far from your faith or your relationship with God to find your way back?

You’re not alone, and the journey back to God may be closer than you think.

I have been walking with the Lord for decades now and for more than 13 years I have learned how to hear His voice and do the things He’s doing. What a game-changer it has been.

Because of this I have also truly experienced His grace when I have messed up whether “big time” or “small”. I have loved hearing His heart as I walk along with Him.

I remember a time when I felt like I messed up big and it was one of those moments that I also felt like I experienced a new measure of His grace in a way I never had.

He reminded me that I was in good company. Some of His favorite people did some pretty terrible things. Not that it justified it but it also allowed me to see it for what it was.

As we walk through this topic of “coming back to God” we will explore what true repentance involves, dive into God’s perspective on our comeback, and I’ll share a few tips on growing your faith post-return.

Regardless of your path of returning to God, it is always paved with hope, forgiveness, and renewal. Let this be your guide to begin this spiritual journey confidently.

People in the Bible Who Fell Away and Came Back

The Bible is full of stories of redemption, showing us that detours in our faith journey aren’t the end of the road. In fact they are an important part of the journey.

The Prodigal Son

Among the stories and parables in the Bible, one of my favorites is that of the Prodigal Son, a story that Yeshua shares in the Gospel of Luke. This parable vividly illustrates the profound joy that accompanies a sinner’s return to the Father, both for the son AND the Father.

The son in pride and entitlement wanted to take all that was his share of the inheritance—which he would only receive upon His father’s death—to go live the life he wanted to live, now.

What a slap in the face to his father. What a dishonorable thing to do. But his father let him make his own choices. The son leaves and squanders it all! It is only as he is eating with the pigs in the pig pen that he comes to his senses.

“How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.’” Luke 15:17-19.

One of my favorite speakers was describing his encounter with God regarding this parable as he was preaching one time. God told him to play this story out two different ways. He would play the role of the father with one of the men from the congregation as his son.

In the first one, the son walked towards the father and the father was happy to see him but waited for him where he was. As they walked back to the house arm in arm, the father said to the son, “We need to figure out a payment plan for you to take care of what you squandered.” “You really messed up big time.” “How are we not going to repeat that?”

The second time, the son walked towards the father and the father started running towards the son towards the back of the building. “You’re back!!!” He shouted and was overcome with the Father’s heart in a supernatural way.

The second is how Yeshua describes the father responding to the son. What a beautiful picture! He is so ready to receive his son back. He was so ready to wipe the slate clean.

There is often a lot of talk about how God can’t stand to be around us when we sin but I don’t see that as scriptural at all. He is the God who comes into the pit to pull us out. (Ref??) Sin is not bigger than Him. The reason is a problem is because it is us turning away from Him. YET GOD….

Yet God comes to us the second we turn back, even when we are far off. He isn’t worried about the distance. He isn’t worried about the time. He isn’t worried about the journey or the process or the mess. He cares about that pivot.

Peter’s Denial

Another beautiful story is that of Peter. We see throughout the New Testament that Peter is a wild one. He often acts before he thinks (Matthew 26:51), struggles with a religious spirit (Paul having to correct him), and even denies Yeshua before three different people in a moment it matters most.

In Matthew 26:59ff we are in Caiaphas’ house and three separate people say that Peter is a friend of Yeshua’s. The first was a little girl. What could she do? Nothing. But fear is a terrible partner.

It wasn’t until the third time and the rooster crowed 3 times that it hit him…he had done the thing Jesus said he would do. I can only imagine the crushing weight in that moment to know that he had just denied his best friend, the Savior of the World.

But like the prodigal son’s story, Peter’s story doesn’t end here. Spoiler alert, Yeshua rises from the dead and comes back to meet with His disciples. They encounter Him on the beach though they don’t recognize Him right away.

He then asks Peter if he loves Him, three times. I bet that third time hit pretty hard. The beautiful thing is not that He asked but that each time Peter said yes, Yeshua entrusted more responsibility to love and care for His sheep.

The story wasn’t over at the turning away.

Both of these stories remind us that despite our failures and how big we think they are, our role in God’s story is not over. In both instances, the message is clear: no matter the distance we’ve wandered or how far we turned our back to Him, the path back to His embrace is always open. The falling or turning away isn’t final; returning to God is what matters most.

What is God Thinking When We Come Back to Him?

Understanding the heart of God towards those who have strayed can deeply influence our perspective on repentance and renewal. Scripture vividly depicts God’s character as that of a loving father, eternally compassionate and patient, awaiting our return no matter the breadth of our departure.

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, the father’s reaction is not of condemnation or judgment but of joy and celebration upon the return of his lost son. This illuminates a profound truth about God’s disposition towards us when we come back to Him.

God’s thoughts towards returning sons and daughters are not focused on our past failings but on our current decision to seek His grace. He sees the humility in our hearts and our sincere desire to restore our relationship with Him.

It is a moment of divine rejoicing, as emphasized in Luke 15:10, where Yeshua narrates, “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” This joy is not just a celestial reaction but a testament to God’s boundless grace, affirming that no one is beyond redemption.

Moreover, God’s thoughts towards us are filled with hope and a vision for our future. When we decide to come back to Him, He is already preparing the way for our spiritual growth, healing, and the restoration of our purpose in His grand design.

Our return initiates a new chapter, one where God actively works in us and through us, guiding our paths toward righteousness and peace. This is the beauty of the gospel that we must regularly preach to ourselves. His love endures forever and even chases after us (Psalm 23). He sees us through the lens of Yeshua’s precious blood.

Therefore, the question of what God is thinking when we come back to Him can be answered with assurance: He is thinking of our immense value to Him, His great love for us, and His eternal commitment to our well-being and spiritual growth. His ultimate goal is to help us look more like Yeshua every day.

His arms are always open, ready to welcome us back into His loving embrace, no matter the circumstances that led us astray. The cost has already been paid and is always there for us to take hold of if we simply turn to Him.

How to Grow After Coming Back

Growth is one of my highest values. Paul encourages us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and yet a few verses later reminds us that God is doing a work in us. If we aren’t growing, what are we doing?

Growth after returning to God is a vital part of revitalizing your faith and relationship with the Father. I believe it involves several key practices that ensure a believer’s path remains aligned with God’s will and teachings.

Relationship

The foundation of this growth lies in relationships. This thing we are doing called life is all about relationships. Yeshua didn’t die for robots or people who didn’t have the capacity to choose to love Him. He did it for broken people like you and me who have full capacity to reject Him…and we often do.

This, however, is unlike any other relationship. He never quits on us or walks away from us. He doesn’t get offended or stomp off in a huff cause you hurt His feelings. This is the healthiest, most fulfilling, and safe relationship there is.

Being able to remember that it is a relationship and we can come back at any time is so powerful. He will always forgive and receive us back. What a beautiful gift!

Prayer

Prayer is just another way of saying communicating with God. We often think of this as talking to God but just like any relationship, communication involves both talking and listening. Direct communication with God opens the heart to His guidance and grace, providing the strength to abandon a lukewarm Christian life.

If the idea of listening to God is new to you, there are so many great resources. The most important thing I want to make a note of here, however, is to say that it isn’t always the same way for every person. God speaks to us in many different ways as evidenced throughout scripture and they vary in different seasons of our lives.

Community

Additionally, seeking fellowship and relationships with other believers plays a crucial role. This walk with the Lord was never meant to be a solitary journey.

Being part of a community that supports and encourages you in your faith journey helps solidify your commitment to God. It’s in the gathering of believers that we find strength, accountability, and mutual edification.

The “one another” verses (Ephesians 4 and many others) and those in Acts 2:37-41 help us understand what that community could look like. But it isn’t a community of self-service but that of self-sacrifice.

Side Note: We do this first out of a place of loving ourselves as He loves us. Then we can love rightly and fully those around us in the same way. We often rush past this or say that to love ourselves is prideful but it is, in fact, essential.

The Word

Immersing oneself in Scripture is another essential step. The Bible is not just a book; it’s the living word of God that has the power to transform lives.

By studying Scripture, one learns the principles of God’s Kingdom and how to apply them in daily life. You learn to die to yourself, to pick up the cross daily, just like Yeshua did.

The world would tell you to look out for number one and that you deserve more than picking up your cross but it is the narrow way that leads to life and life abundant.

This continuous process of learning and applying God’s Word is pivotal for spiritual growth and avoiding the pitfalls that previously led you away from God. But we are all humans. We will mess up yet again and we will get to experience His great love, yet again.

Following these steps effectively encourages a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God. It is a journey marked by continuous seeking, learning, and strengthening of faith. As we follow this path, we become more rooted in our faith, able to withstand the challenges of life while fostering a closer relationship with God.

Final Thoughts on Returning to God

This journey of returning to God, while unique for everyone, draws on fundamental biblical principles and the shared experiences of those who have walked this path before.

The most important of them all is the choice to return. It is always our choice. He will always allow us the choice to choose Him, to choose to love Him.

I am reminded of a Philip Yancy quote:

The fact that love does not operate according to the rules of power may help explain why God sometimes seems shy to use his power. He created us to love him, but his most impressive displays of miracle — the kind we may secretly long for — do nothing to foster that love.
Philip Yancey – Disappointment with God

Regardless of what the story is, one of rejection of the Father like the prodigal son or a rejection based on fear like Peter, there is always a way back.

The Father is always ready with open arms for us to return to Him. There is always hope. There are always arms wide open. His love is unconditional and never-ending. What a beautiful promise to rest on.

As we repent and turn toward Him, there is a transformation process that begins. We begin to look more and more like Yeshua. We move in more grace, love, and peace.

The Father’s response to our return is one of open arms and boundless grace, affirming that no one is beyond redemption. Nothing is beyond redemption.

When we return to Him, the commitment to prayer, abandoning a lukewarm faith, building a supportive community, and deepening one’s understanding of Scripture becomes something that is done out of relationship not out of duty or must do.

Encountering moments of doubt or feeling distanced from God is a part of our spiritual journey. However, these stories in scripture underscore that coming back to God is not just a possibility but a path lined with hope, encouragement, and divine love.

As fellow seekers, may we continue to support one another in this journey, always turning back to Scripture and our Father as our ultimate guide towards renewal and deepened faith.