You, Lord are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not?

Isaiah 63:16b

The prophet Isaiah calls out to God in frustration. He looks around at the nation of Israel and sees that they have wandered from God’s presence. They have wandered from God and his ways. As a result, things are not going well in the nation. Isaiah asks God, in frustration, why he allowed this to happen.

When we wander away from God and his presence, eventually it catches up to us. We can be tempted to blame God, but it is we who have moved away from God, not God who has moved away from us. To move back into his presence, all we need to do is turn from our sin and call to him.

In what ways have you wandered from God and feel his absence from your life? Confess it and call upon his name. Ask him to be present in that area of your life.

Father, I am sorry for the times that I have chosen not to walk in your ways. Fill me with an overwhelming desire to be like you and seek your presence this Advent.