by Richelle Hecker

No sin keeps our Father from longing for our return.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

Parenting isn’t easy. A good parent will have their heart broken many times and in many ways. They will make mistakes that impact their children, and question every decision they make along their journey. They will wonder if they are good, strong, or wise enough to handle the responsibility of leading their child in the way they should go. They will spend a great deal of time asking their Heavenly Father to lead both them and their child on this journey.

The child will try their patience. They may rebel, go their own way, and make choices the parent cannot comprehend or condone. They may wander so far that the parent believes them to be lost forever, unreachable, and alone. Memories of leading their child carefully through the dangers of everyday living will flood them. Holding their hand to cross the road and keeping them safe near the water.  Snapping on a helmet, knee pads, and arm pads as they increase their mobility. They know their child now carries a burden they cannot lift for them, and there is no protection from the consequences of their sin.

Our Heavenly Father feels the same way about us. He carefully leads us in the way we should go, teaching and protecting us. He grieves when we wander away from Him on a path that hurts us, and longs for us to turn to Him and ask for forgiveness. He wants to lift the burden of our sin and bring us healing.

“Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.”
Psalm 32:5 New International Version

What a joy it is for a parent whose child was lost and in danger to have that child return! All is forgiven as they are permitted to pour out their love on the child who was dead and is now alive. There is nothing you have done that prevents your Heavenly Father from desiring that you return to Him, ask His forgiveness, and allow Him to heal you.

Run to Him, child.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO