Coming back to God after pain, doubt, or distance can feel overwhelming, but Luke 15:21–24 reveals the heart of a Father who welcomes His children home with compassion, grace, and celebration. Even when suffering, illness, or disappointment shake our faith, God remains loving, present, and ready to restore what feels lost.

Highlights


Seasons of pain and unanswered prayers can cause believers to drift from God.


Feelings of doubt don’t define truth—God’s Word does.


Chronic suffering can deepen faith rather than destroy it.


God is not the author of pain but the author of redemption and hope.


The parable of the prodigal son reveals God’s eagerness to restore, not reject.


Confession leads to restoration, not punishment, in God’s kingdom.


No matter how far we wander, we are always welcomed home by our Heavenly Father.

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Full Transcript Below:

Coming Home to the Father
By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:21-24).

Most of us have had times when we have strayed from God. Due to something bad happening in our lives, we just wanted to leave everything, including our faith. Since we know God is all-powerful, we become disheartened when He doesn’t bring us out of a troublesome time. 

I strayed from God when I was in the middle of being diagnosed with a now-known autoimmune disease. When I was still in the process of finding a diagnosis, I was scared of the worst-case scenario: an incurable disease. I constantly prayed to God and asked that I would not have to walk through the rest of my life with a chronic illness. 

During that time, I saw my faith begin to crumble. The excruciating pain I was experiencing made me question God, His goodness, and His presence in my life.

I saw other people around me, who were thriving and healthy, yet here I was, sitting in a hospital, waiting to undergo another imaging test. For months, I did not talk to God, and I blamed Him for my pain. I hit rock bottom in my mental health as I fell into the belief that God didn’t love me or care about me…. But I must remember that feelings are only feelings—they are not facts. By reading the Bible and relying on what I know rather than how I feel, I have been able to make headway in renewing my mind to know that God does indeed love and care about me—and He loves and cares about you, too.

While my disease hasn’t changed much from the time I was first diagnosed, my faith has changed tremendously from the days when I was doubting God. Going through that process has brought about much growth in my spiritual walk with the Lord. I no longer see God as the author behind my pain, but rather, as the author of beautiful endings. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Within the Parable of the Lost Son, we are met with this wonderful encounter: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:21-24). 

The prodigal son had squandered his father’s wealth in wild living and left his family behind. However, when he had passed the point of no return, he fell before his father, confessed his sins, and told him he was not worthy to be his father’s son. The father chose to have his servants bring the best robe to his son, put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and celebrate with a fattened calf. This would have been a surprise to the son, as he would have expected his father to send him away, yet his father richly adorns him and throws him a celebration. 

The father and the son in this parable are allegorical to our relationship with God the Father. We were lost, and now we are found. Even though we might not have left God and squandered our lives in wild living, we have all drifted away from Him at some point in our Christian walk. The beautiful reminder we have here is that if we ever drift away, we are always welcomed home in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Praise God for His kindness, mercy, and love!

Further Reading:

Jeremiah 31:3

Joel 2:12-15

1 Corinthians 1:9

Coming back to God after pain, doubt, or distance can feel overwhelming, but Luke 15:21&ndash;24 reveals the heart of a Father who welcomes His children home with compassion, grace, and celebration. Even when suffering, illness, or disappointment shake our faith, God remains loving, present, and ready to restore what feels lost.
Highlights
<ul data-start="358" data-end="873">
<li data-start="358" data-end="439">
Seasons of pain and unanswered prayers can cause believers to drift from God.
</li>
<li data-start="440" data-end="497">
Feelings of doubt don&rsquo;t define truth&mdash;God&rsquo;s Word does.
</li>
<li data-start="498" data-end="560">
Chronic suffering can deepen faith rather than destroy it.
</li>
<li data-start="561" data-end="633">
God is not the author of pain but the author of redemption and hope.
</li>
<li data-start="634" data-end="717">
The parable of the prodigal son reveals God&rsquo;s eagerness to restore, not reject.
</li>
<li data-start="718" data-end="788">
Confession leads to restoration, not punishment, in God&rsquo;s kingdom.
</li>
<li data-start="789" data-end="873">
No matter how far we wander, we are always welcomed home by our Heavenly Father.
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
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<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Coming Home to the Father By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading: &ldquo;The son said to him, &lsquo;Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.&rsquo; But the father said to his servants, &lsquo;Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let&rsquo;s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.&rsquo; So they began to celebrate&rdquo; (Luke 15:21-24).
Most of us have had times when we have strayed from God. Due to something bad happening in our lives, we just wanted to leave everything, including our faith. Since we know God is all-powerful, we become disheartened when He doesn&rsquo;t bring us out of a troublesome time.&nbsp;
I strayed from God when I was in the middle of being diagnosed with a now-known autoimmune disease. When I was still in the process of finding a diagnosis, I was scared of the worst-case scenario: an incurable disease. I constantly prayed to God and asked that I would not have to walk through the rest of my life with a chronic illness.&nbsp;
During that time, I saw my faith begin to crumble. The excruciating pain I was experiencing made me question God, His goodness, and His presence in my life.
I saw other people around me, who were thriving and healthy, yet here I was, sitting in a hospital, waiting to undergo another imaging test. For months, I did not talk to God, and I blamed Him for my pain. I hit rock bottom in my mental health as I fell into the belief that God didn&rsquo;t love me or care about me&hellip;. But I must remember that feelings are only feelings&mdash;they are not facts. By reading the Bible and relying on what I know rather than how I feel, I have been able to make headway in renewing my mind to know that God does indeed love and care about me&mdash;and He loves and cares about you, too.
While my disease hasn&rsquo;t changed much from the time I was first diagnosed, my faith has changed tremendously from the days when I was doubting God. Going through that process has brought about much growth in my spiritual walk with the Lord. I no longer see God as the author behind my pain, but rather, as the author of beautiful endings.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Within the Parable of the Lost Son, we are met with this wonderful encounter: &ldquo;The son said to him, &lsquo;Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.&rsquo; But the father said to his servants, &lsquo;Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let&rsquo;s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.&rsquo; So they began to celebrate&rdquo; (Luke 15:21-24).&nbsp;
The prodigal son had squandered his father&rsquo;s wealth in wild living and left his family behind. However, when he had passed the point of no return, he fell before his father, confessed his sins, and told him he was not worthy to be his father&rsquo;s son. The father chose to have his servants bring the best robe to his son, put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and celebrate with a fattened calf. This would have been a surprise to the son, as he would have expected his father to send him away, yet his father richly adorns him and throws him a celebration.&nbsp;
The father and the son in this parable are allegorical to our relationship with God the Father. We were lost, and now we are found. Even though we might not have left God and squandered our lives in wild living, we have all drifted away from Him at some point in our Christian walk. The beautiful reminder we have here is that if we ever drift away, we are always welcomed home in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Praise God for His kindness, mercy, and love!
Further Reading:
Jeremiah 31:3
Joel 2:12-15
1 Corinthians 1:9

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Coming Home to the Father

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/04acbcc8-35b9-4f61-84b5-b3d20126c888/transcript