A journey of faith: Returning to God’s embrace

For as long as I can remember, church has been a part of my life. My Sunday best always consisted of black babydoll shoes and white laced socks turned down around the ankle. Saturday evening was spent making sure my shoes had a good shine for the next day’s service. Mom ensured our clothes were wrinkle-free, while Dad ensured we all left on time for Sunday School.
Walking through the big double doors, I would see Grandma sitting on the left-hand side in the third row from the front. She was easy to spot because she had the most beautiful white bun sitting up high on the back of her head. She was a lady of grace and solid on routine, hence her weekly sitting place. It was the church in the 1960s. The preacher preached; the choir sang; the men greeted each other; the women taught Sunday school, and the children remained quiet.
Somewhere in my 65 years, church became something far greater than the cookie-cutter image of my childhood. It transformed into a vibrant place of learning and growth in faith, where questions were welcomed and doubts were met with understanding. In this sacred space, I discovered not only companionship but genuine friendships that celebrated my joys and offered strength during my struggles
I have recognized the importance of Sunday morning gatherings, but there were times when challenges caused me to miss those services, as life often took priority over routine. During the times I could attend, I was fully committed to Christ and the ministry I was involved in. However, during the periods when I was absent, I often felt sidelined in my faith and struggled to find my purpose.
Faith is a growing process with times of strength and times of weakness. The Apostle Peter’s faith journey included various highs and lows in his relationship with the Lord. In Matthew 4, Jesus saw Peter and his brother fishing by the Sea of Galilee. When Jesus said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men,” Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets to follow after the Lord. As a trusted follower, Peter was the first to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 16:13-20). Nonetheless, he denied the Lord three times on the night Jesus was arrested (Luke 22:54-62).
King David had the same kind of in-and-out faith. In the Psalms, we read of David’s great love for the Lord. We also read of times of fear and brokenness when David found himself separated from God. Psalm 18 speaks of David’s great love for the Lord, of times when the Lord reached down to rescue him. In Psalm 51, we read about David’s sorrow when he realized he was separated from the Lord due to his affair with Bathsheba. Still, through all of the trials of King David, The Heavenly Father proclaimed His great love for David because David was a man after the heart of God (Acts 13:22).
Honestly, no matter where life has taken us, our Heavenly Father eagerly awaits our return, much like the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). He stands ready to welcome us back with open arms, extending grace and forgiveness for every step we’ve taken away. In this embrace, we find true belonging and purpose, a chance to deepen our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Isn’t it time to come home to a community of faith? Your presence has been missed more than you know.
Jeremiah 3:12: “O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful.

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.