When You Have Drifted Too Far: How to Return Without Shame
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A prophetic invitation to let go of shame and be drawn back to the Secret Place
Have you ever looked up and realized… you’re not where you used to be with God?
Maybe it wasn’t one big fall, just a slow fade—a quiet disconnect that crept in between laundry, deadlines, and disappointments. Or maybe the distance came from grief, failure, or fear. Whatever the reason, shame will try to whisper that you’ve gone too far. But here’s the truth: God’s not pacing the floor with crossed arms—He’s standing at the edge of the road with open arms, waiting to walk you back into the Secret Place when you have drifted too far. No striving. No punishment. Just return.
Don’t you hear Him calling you? He’s waiting for you to wake up and hear His still small voice… calling your name.
And maybe, if you’re honest, you’ve felt it too—that ache, that holy discomfort. The sense that something sacred has slipped out of sync. Recognizing the drift is the first step to returning when you have drifted too far.
Recognizing the Drift Without Condemnation
The enemy wants you to believe that distance equals disqualification. But drifting doesn’t disqualify you—it reminds you that your soul was made to dwell. You were created to live close to the Father, and even when you wander, His presence still pursues you. The moment you become aware of the drift isn’t a moment of condemnation—it’s an invitation. An awakening. Not to fix yourself, but to let Him find you.
Maybe your drift started with disappointment—prayers unanswered, dreams delayed, or wounds that felt too deep for words. Maybe you stopped showing up in the secret place because it started to feel like silence. And silence, when stretched long enough, starts to sound like rejection.
But can I gently remind you? God is not punishing you with quiet. Sometimes the silence is sacred. Sometimes it’s the sound of God doing deep work beneath the surface—healing roots, rebuilding identity, pulling you back with cords of lovingkindness (Hosea 11:4).
You haven’t been forgotten. You’ve been pursued—even in your silence.
The Secret Place Still Has Your Name On It
The Secret Place isn’t reserved for the perfect. It’s not earned through flawless quiet time routines or spotless obedience. It’s a sanctuary—a place of belonging—that still bears your name. The same God who met Adam and Eve in the garden is still walking and whispering, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9, CSB). Not because He doesn’t know where you are, but because He wants you to know you’re still wanted. And He sees you—even when you don’t see or recognize Him in your garden. You haven’t missed your moment. You haven’t been erased. Your name is still echoing in the garden.
Returning Is Less About Your Feet—More About Your Heart
Returning to God isn’t about performing penance or retracing every misstep—it’s about softening your heart and letting Him draw near. Sometimes the greatest act of faith is not running back, but simply turning toward Him again. Even if all you can whisper is, “I don’t know where to begin.” He hears that. He honors that.
The prophet Joel said it like this: “Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness…” (Joel 2:13, NKJV). God isn’t after your polished prayers—He’s after your surrendered heart. And a surrendered heart starts with your ‘YES!’
Wondering what Intimacy with God in real life really looks like? Read “Draw Near: What Intimacy With God In Real Life Actually Looks Like.”
From Shame to Shelter
Shame tells you to hide. But the presence of God was never meant to be a place of punishment—it’s always been a place of protection. From the very beginning, when Adam and Eve covered themselves in fig leaves, God didn’t cast them out in wrath—He covered them in grace (Genesis 3:21). That’s still His heart toward you.
You may feel too messy, too far, too broken—but the truth is, the safest place for all of that is under His wings. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalm 91:1, KJV)
I’ve had moments where I felt like I couldn’t even lift my hands to pray—where I wasn’t sure how to come back to God. But every single time I chose to show up—even with silence, even with tears—His presence met me there. It wasn’t loud or dramatic. Just a still, small reminder: You are safe here. Come close.
The enemy will always try to convince you that you have to clean yourself up first. But God’s invitation is simple: “Come to Me.”
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16, NKJV)
Feeling like you’re not qualified for your calling? Check out this post: Called but not qualified? What to do when God chooses you anyway.
A Gentle Practice for the Drifting Heart
If the idea of “getting back to God” feels overwhelming, start small. He’s not asking for your perfection—just your presence. Returning doesn’t have to be a dramatic altar call or a deep theological reset. Sometimes it’s just making space and whispering “I’m here.”
Try this gentle return practice:
- Light a candle — Let it represent His presence near you.
- Read Psalm 23 aloud — Slowly. Let the words wash over your soul.
- Close your eyes and whisper: “Jesus, what are You saying to me today?”
- Write what you hear — Even if it’s just one word or image.
And sometimes… it’s hard to even hear, let alone to write what you hear—and that’s okay too. If all you can do is cry, then cry. The intelligible uttering of the heart is a whole language the Holy Spirit understands—even when you don’t.
There’s no wrong way to return. There’s only yes. One whispered yes at a time.
And remember—He’s not waiting for your strength. He’s waiting for your surrender.
Before We Close…
If you’ve read this far, you already know—something is stirring. Don’t rush past it. Let it sit with you. Let this be your first “yes” back into the garden. Not in fear. Not in shame. But in love.
Closing Prayer
Father, I come back—not in perfection, but in surrender. I lay down the shame, the silence, the fear that told me I had to earn Your love again. I choose to believe what’s always been true: You’ve been here, waiting for me in the quiet. I say yes. Yes to Your voice. Yes to Your presence. Yes to coming home.
Help me to return—not just once, but daily—to the Secret Place. To make space again for intimacy with You. Even when I don’t know what to say, teach me to trust that You understand every tear, every pause, every breath.
Thank You for being the kind of God who runs to meet me on the road. I receive Your embrace today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Coming Soon…
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