Try God!

Not long ago, I visited with a man who had lived a pretty rough life. He said he had accepted Christ when he was young, but as an adult he drifted—bad decisions, bad habits, broken relationships, and a trail of regrets. At one point he wondered if he had lost his salvation altogether. He thought his mistakes had pushed God so far away that he could never get back to where he once was. But that isn’t how God works.

Scripture tells us, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Once we accept Him, we are His for eternity! Salvation is God’s gift, not something we earn or keep by our own strength.

Still, many of us go through seasons where we feel distant from God—not because His love changed, but because life changed. Our choices, our routines, our distractions, our struggles… they all pull us in different directions.

It reminds me of childhood friendships. As kids, we sometimes have a friend we’re inseparable from—laughing, running, sharing secrets, growing up side by side. Then life happens. We move, we grow up, we get busy. No argument occurred and there were no hard feelings… just distance. Yes, the sun can set on a relationship. And when we finally see that friend again, it feels natural to pick up right where we left off. There’s no earning our way back into that friendship. The bond was always there. That’s how God is with us. He isn’t after religion, rules, or formalities. He’s after relationship. A heart turned toward Him. A quiet conversation. A moment of honesty. A simple, “Lord, I’m here.”

James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” It doesn’t say we have to fix ourselves first. It doesn’t say we have to be perfect. It simply says draw near—because God’s arms are already open wide.

And here’s something I’ve noticed: many people spend years trying everything the world offers—fun things, wild things, risky things, all the things that promise excitement or escape. But if your heart still feels empty… if the excitement fades as fast as it comes… maybe it’s time to try something different. If you’ve tried everything else, try giving God a fresh chance with your life. Just sit down somewhere quiet and pour it out to Him. Nobody else has to know. It doesn’t have to be dramatic or complicated. Just you and God, talking honestly. Because God is more than we imagine. He is the Way Maker when we don’t know which direction to turn. He is the Healer when our hearts ache in places we can’t talk about. He is the Friend who never walks away. He is the Father who never stops loving His child. He is the One who meets us in the quiet, does the heavy lifting, and fills the emptiness no earthly thrill has ever touched. When we take even the smallest step toward Him, He gets all excited. Let Him shine on your life like a new sunrise.

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” — Psalm 145:18