The greatest struggle a prodigal will have is whether their journey home was worth it. The obvious answer is absolutely. The reason this occurs is to often we are distracted by the relationships that may have motivated such returning. It is so important that we are motivated first and foremost by father God and the grace and mercy he has allowed us and nothing else. The sad reality is often people are motivated by the relationship that was broken and has done all to return to that relationship, yes I believe in reconciliation, but if the motivation is the relationship and you never get back with the person you desire the setback could turn your heart to a state of rebellion believing the LIE that God let you down. Focus on God throughout the process and the healing of your heart can be whole in Him
God has to be the main reason for any journey for its only him that can sustain true change in our hearts. For example Paul ends his breathtaking letter to Galatians with this incredible reminder: both Jews and Gentiles who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ are God's people, his Israel. Like Abraham who left on a long journey trusting in God's promise, so also all who are spiritual Israel follow God's lead and cling to God's promise through faith in Jesus Christ. Like those who were delivered in the Exodus by the power of God and with the sprinkled blood of the Passover lamb, God's people today have been blood-bought and delivered from their bondage to sin and death. Here there is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female, because in Israel, we are God's people and the recipients of his mercy and his peace.
So when discouragement arises and it will look to God and your mentor and pray through the struggle and strain. Focus not on the relationship or spouse but on God allow him to be the one that sooths the pain.
The winner of this year's U.S. Open had successful reconstructive surgery on his damaged knee about ten days later. He will miss the remainder of this year's PGA tournament events, of course, while he rehabs the knee. But few people doubt he will be ready to play the tour next year. He is, after all, Tiger Woods. He is the ultimate competitor. He doesn't quit.
There are pains of all kinds. Physical trauma, broken relationships, failed ventures, consequences of wrongs done — all are different and all the same. And each of us has to decide about quitting, playing to the pain, or working through.
As you're deciding what to do with yours, think about why so many people are speaking of Tiger Woods with such admiration these days — even the folks like me, who hardly know which end of a golf club to hold.
True courage isn't just outlasting difficulty, but turning it into triumph.
Keep the focus on the only true God your journey will glorify him,
your brother in the journey
Marc
