Returning to God: Overcoming Spiritual Drift Together

Summary

So grateful for the spirit of teamwork and the willingness of so many to step up and serve in the work of God. It’s a blessing to see people not only asking where they can fit in, but also responding to the call to help, whether it’s with a yard sale, bake sale, or simply being present for one another. This is the kind of unity and cooperation that God desires in His church. But as we celebrate these moments, it’s also important to pause and reflect on the deeper spiritual realities that can quietly shape our lives.

Drawing from Lamentations 3:40, “Let us search and try our ways and turn again to the Lord,” the call is to honest self-examination. Life’s pressures—work, bills, health issues, and family demands—can slowly and subtly pull us away from God. It’s rarely a dramatic departure; more often, it’s a gradual drift. We may find ourselves going through the motions: attending church, saying prayers, but with hearts that are distant, worship that is empty, and priorities that have shifted. The danger is not open rebellion, but a slow burnout where God is no longer at the center.

The challenge is to recognize when this drift has happened. It’s easy to blame circumstances, other people, or even the church, but the real question is: Have I moved away from God? Am I as close to Him today as I was a year ago? The answer requires courage and honesty. God’s love is not condemning; He is always calling us back, gently knocking on the door of our hearts, inviting us to return. The solution is not to try harder in our own strength, but to turn again to the Lord, to make Him our priority, and to let His Spirit guide us through every season—good or bad.

God’s invitation is not just for the moments of crisis, but for every day. He wants to walk with us, empower us, and restore us. No matter how far we’ve drifted, His love remains, and His call is always to return, to search our hearts, and to let Him lead us once again.

Key Takeaways

- The Subtle Drift from God
Spiritual distance often happens gradually, not through dramatic rebellion but through the slow accumulation of life’s pressures and distractions. We may still be doing “Christian things,” but our hearts can become distant, our worship routine, and our prayers mere recitations of problems. Recognizing this drift requires honest self-examination and a willingness to face uncomfortable truths about our spiritual priorities. [28:40]

- Honest Self-Examination is Essential
Scripture calls us to “search and try our ways,” to ask ourselves tough questions: Am I closer to God now than before? What is truly guiding my decisions and priorities? This kind of self-examination is not about condemnation, but about realigning our hearts with God’s will and recognizing when we’ve allowed distractions to take His place. [39:19]

- Distractions, Not Just Sin, Can Separate Us
It’s not always blatant sin that leads us away from God; often, it’s the legitimate demands of life—work, family, health—that become our focus. When these things take priority over our relationship with God, we find ourselves spiritually depleted and burnt out. The call is to identify what is leading us and to intentionally put God first, even in the midst of life’s busyness. [40:54]

- God’s Call is Always Rooted in Love
Even when we have drifted, God’s response is not anger or condemnation, but a loving invitation to return. He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to open our hearts again. His love is patient and persistent, always seeking restoration rather than punishment, and He desires to empower us not just in crisis, but in the everyday journey of faith. [49:34]

- Returning to God Requires Action
It’s not enough to simply recognize our distance from God; we must respond to His call by turning again to Him. This means making intentional choices to prioritize time with God, to seek His will, and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. Restoration comes when we accept God’s love, admit our need, and actively pursue His presence in our daily lives. [47:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - The Blessing of Teamwork in the Church
[03:10] - Finding Your Place in God’s Work
[06:25] - Responding to the Call to Serve
[09:50] - Introducing Lamentations 3:40
[12:30] - Life’s Pressures and the Quiet Drift
[16:05] - The Example of Gradual Distance
[20:30] - Recognizing Burnout and Spiritual Emptiness
[25:32] - Honest Reflection on Priorities
[28:40] - The Subtlety of Spiritual Drift
[32:07] - When Worship Becomes Routine
[36:10] - The Need for Genuine Prayer and Worship
[39:19] - Self-Examination: Are You Closer to God?
[40:54] - Evaluating What Guides Your Life
[46:35] - The Call to Return to God
[47:44] - God’s Love and Invitation
[49:34] - Opening the Door to God’s Presence
[50:24] - Prayer and Final Encouragement

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Returning to God’s Heart

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### Bible Reading

Lamentations 3:40
“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Lamentations 3:40, what two actions are we called to take before turning back to the Lord?
2. In the sermon, what are some examples given of how people can drift away from God without realizing it? [[28:40]]
3. What does the pastor say is often the cause of spiritual distance—open rebellion or something else? [[30:03]]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between going through the motions of faith and truly being close to God? [[32:07]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the Bible calls us to “search and try our ways” instead of just telling us to turn back to God? What is the value in honest self-examination? [[39:19]]
2. The pastor mentions that life’s pressures and distractions, not just sin, can pull us away from God. How does this change the way we think about spiritual drift? [[40:54]]
3. According to the sermon, how does God respond when we have drifted away? Is His response more about condemnation or invitation? [[49:34]]
4. What does it look like, practically, to “turn again to the Lord” in the middle of a busy or stressful season? [[47:44]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talks about a “subtle drift” from God that happens gradually. Looking back over the past year, can you identify any ways you may have drifted spiritually? What were the signs? [[28:40]]
2. When you pray or worship, do you ever find yourself just “going through the motions”? What are some practical steps you could take to make your time with God more genuine this week? [[32:07]]
3. The pastor says it’s easy to blame circumstances or other people for our spiritual distance, but the real question is: “Have I moved away from God?” How can you honestly answer that question for yourself right now? [[40:54]]
4. What are some specific distractions or pressures in your life that tend to take priority over your relationship with God? How can you intentionally put God first, even when life is busy? [[40:54]]
5. God’s call to return is always rooted in love, not condemnation. How does knowing this affect your willingness to come back to Him after you’ve drifted? [[49:34]]
6. The sermon challenges us to make intentional choices to prioritize time with God. What is one concrete change you can make this week to seek God’s presence more actively? [[47:44]]
7. The pastor shared about teamwork and serving in the church. How can being involved in serving others help keep your heart close to God? Is there a new way you feel called to serve right now? [[45s]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you honestly search your heart, to reveal any areas where you’ve drifted, and to give you the courage and desire to turn again to Him. Pray for strength to keep Him at the center of your life, no matter what pressures or distractions come your way.

Devotional

Day 1: Examine Your Ways and Return to the Lord
There are seasons in life when the pressures of work, family, and daily responsibilities quietly pull us away from God, not through open rebellion but through gradual distraction. In these moments, it is vital to pause and honestly search our hearts, asking ourselves if we have drifted from the closeness we once had with God. The call is not one of condemnation but of loving invitation—God desires that we recognize where we are, evaluate what has become our priority, and intentionally turn our hearts back to Him. This self-examination is not about blame, but about realigning our lives so that God is once again at the center, guiding our steps and restoring our peace. [32:07]

Lamentations 3:40 (ESV)
"Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you sense you have drifted from God’s presence? What practical step can you take today to begin returning to Him in that area?


Day 2: Seek First the Kingdom of God
When life becomes overwhelming and the demands never seem to end, it is easy to let our relationship with God slip into the background. Yet, God’s Word reminds us that our first priority must always be to seek Him and His righteousness above all else. When we put God first, everything else finds its proper place, and we are able to face life’s challenges with renewed strength and perspective. Even in the midst of stress and exhaustion, making time for God—through prayer, worship, and His Word—restores our souls and keeps us anchored in His love. [32:07]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Reflection: What is one specific way you can intentionally put God first in your schedule this week, even when you feel busy or tired?


Day 3: Examine Yourself: Are You in the Faith?
It is possible to go through the motions of faith—attending church, reading the Bible, saying prayers—while our hearts are far from God. The Bible urges us to examine ourselves honestly, to see if we are truly living in faith or simply maintaining a form of godliness without its power. This self-examination is not meant to discourage, but to help us recognize when we have become distracted or distant, so we can return to a vibrant, authentic relationship with God. Asking ourselves tough questions about our spiritual health is an act of humility and a step toward deeper intimacy with Christ. [39:19]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: Take a few quiet moments today to ask yourself: Am I truly seeking God, or just going through the motions? What is one change I can make to deepen my walk with Him?


Day 4: God’s Loving Invitation to Return
No matter how far we may have drifted, God’s love remains steadfast. He does not force His way into our lives but gently calls us to return, standing at the door and knocking, waiting for us to open our hearts to Him again. His invitation is not one of anger or condemnation, but of grace and welcome. Even when we feel unworthy or embarrassed by our mistakes, God’s desire is to restore us, to walk with us daily, and to fill our lives with His presence and peace. [49:34]

Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

Reflection: Is there a “door” in your heart that you have kept closed to God? What would it look like to open that door to Him today?


Day 5: Hold On to Jesus in Every Season
Life’s battles can be relentless, and sometimes just holding on feels like a victory. Yet, God promises to be with us not only in the high moments or the deepest valleys, but every single day. We were never meant to face life’s challenges in our own strength; God offers us His Spirit to comfort, guide, and empower us. When we keep our focus on Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, we find the strength to persevere, the faith to overcome, and the assurance that God will see us through every trial. [50:24]

Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Reflection: In what current struggle do you need to intentionally hold on to Jesus and trust His strength rather than your own? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you through it today?

Quotes

He said, come unto me, all you labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He said, come unto me. God is calling us to come to him. And when we begin to say that God is not there for you, and the church is not there for you, for you, this, that, and the other. Something happened along the way. [00:38:30] (00:00:18 seconds) Edit Clip

Paul said the same thing in the New Testament. Examine yourself. Are you in the faith? Are you doing what God wants you to do? As we begin to look at this, he says, again, examine yourself, whether you be in the faith. Have to ask yourself, have I wandered from God in the midst of all that I've got going on in my life? Am I being where God wants me? [00:39:16] (00:00:18 seconds) Edit Clip

Sometimes it's not sin that separates us but distractions. You get distracted. I have different ones that now they call me up and they tell me all the problems they've got going on in their life and would you please pray for me. I've been praying for people for the last three years because three years is when we started our prayer program. [00:42:00] (00:00:20 seconds) Edit Clip

We know that God is good. We know He's gracious. He's a loving God. He will help us because lamentation said that God was calling those that had gone through something. He said, return unto me. We know He's a loving God. He said, turn again to the Lord. But we just got to make up our mind to accept that love of God. [00:47:02] (00:00:21 seconds) Edit Clip

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. He does not need to stand at the door and knock. It's love that does that. That door should not have even been there. He should be able to flow in your heart. I mean, the love of God should be able to flow in your heart, and God should be able to deal with you whenever he wants to. But sometimes, because of whatever situation, we've built up a wall, and God politely and lovingly is knocking on that door. [00:49:31] (00:00:21 seconds) Edit Clip

Keep on the firing line. Keep God at the center of your attention, your focus. Allow the Holy Ghost to lead you, and you're going to see, God will see you through all the going on. In all the distress and situation that you have to go through, remember that God's always there. He's there before the battle. He's there in the midst of the battle, and God will be there after the battle. Trust in Jesus. [00:51:02] (00:00:20 seconds) Edit Clip