I'm sure a lot of you know the story of the prodigal son in the book of Luke. For those who don't, it's a parable about a son who was given an inheritance from his Father and ran with it. He went away and spent all his earnings on wild living, partying it up. Shortly after blowing all his money there was a famine in the country so he began to be in need. He became a servant and cared for the pigs in the land. Even then, he wasn't treated well and wasn't given any food. He remembered how well his Father treated the servants back home and came up with the plan to run home and ask for his Father's forgiveness and to be a servant for him.
As he was making his way home his Father saw him from a distance and ran to him. He threw his arms around his son and showed him compassion. His Father requested the best robe and sandals, he was so full of joy that his son was home. "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Luke 15:24
This story represents how God sees us. We all fall short, we all run and do our own thing. Sometimes or a lot of the time I slip up and I start to blame God, how could you let this happen? Why didn't you pull me away from that situation? We go to states of discouragement and just try to pray our way out of them. Some of the battles I fought last year were in places I shouldn’t of been. There are certain places I need to stay away from, I have to be weary of where I go, not just physically but in my mind.
Going back to the story, what made the son run away to begin with? Was he tired of living under his dad's rules, wanting to see what he was missing out on? It reminds me of myself, I'll be living the life with Jesus but then I get distracted by what's going on at the bar or at the random after party and I forget how good I already had it.
Every time I go back to those situations I have fun for all of a few hours then the next morning I feel like crap, I'm sad and I'm filled with guilt. One thing my sister said to me the other day was "Don't feel shame, that's from the enemy but guilt, guilt is ok since it pushes you closer to Jesus."
Like the prodigal son, God will use famine in your life to get you to a place of purpose. He will always welcome you with open arms.