When God Pulls You Back with Trials

The scariest thing isn’t when God says ‘no’—it’s when He goes silent while we walk away

Welcome friend,

I’m Mark, and this space is for the wanderers, the worn out, and the ones still wrestling with God at 2 a.m. I don’t have all the answers, but I know the One who does—and I’m learning to trust Him more.

If this message meets you where you are, stick around. Subscribe, share, or simply pray with me as we walk this narrow road together.

And, if you feel lead to support my ministry, be sure to buy the next coffee! God Bless!

You don’t always notice when it starts.

Maybe it’s skipping church here and there or ignoring that gentle nudge in your spirit when you gossip. Perhaps clicking on something you shouldn’t, or letting anger simmer a little too long. Before you know it, you're far from where you started—far from God.

And He lets you feel it.

Not because He’s cruel, but because He loves you too much to let you keep going.

The Drift Feels Quiet, But the Snapback Is Loud

Like a child, we wander off the path. God doesn’t always stop us mid-step. Sometimes He lets us go just far enough to realize that we’re heading straight into a thorn bush. Then the trials come. Not always as punishment, but as a wake-up call.

The relationship falls apart. The job you were blessed with suddenly dries up. The peace you once had becomes anxiety. The prayers bounce off the ceiling. What happened?

God is pulling you back.

Hebrews 12:6 says, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” That discipline doesn’t always look like lightning bolts and fire. Sometimes, it’s a slow unraveling of the blessings we stopped being grateful for. It’s the spiritual hunger that returns when we’ve stopped feasting on His Word.

He loves you enough to disrupt your comfort so you’ll return to your calling.

When Blessings Become Bare

Sometimes God removes His hand so we’ll remember who holds everything together. It’s not just loss—it’s mercy in disguise.

God knows that a full bank account means nothing if your soul is bankrupt. He knows that a big circle of friends is empty if you're far from Him. So yes, He may take things away, but it’s to give you something far better: Himself.

Psalm 119:67 puts it plainly: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.”

The affliction woke the psalmist up. It wasn’t fun. But it was necessary.

Not Every Trial Means You Strayed

Let’s be real: Not every hardship is because you sinned. Sometimes trials are tests of faith or tools for growth. But sometimes? They are holy discipline. And if you’re honest with yourself, you know the difference.

When the Holy Spirit convicts you, listen. Don’t wait for life to fall apart. God’s correction is a gift—a sign you are truly His (Hebrews 12:8).

A Loving Father Never Leaves You There

God doesn’t discipline us and then walk away. He disciplines us and then waits—arms wide open—for us to return.

Just like the prodigal son, we can come back, filthy and broken, and still be met with a robe, a ring, and a feast (Luke 15). But first, we have to turn around.

1 John 1:9 promises: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

That’s not just a one-time salvation verse. That’s for every time we mess up, fall away, or start trusting in anything more than God.

Conclusion

If life feels like it’s falling apart, ask yourself: Am I still walking with God, or have I wandered?

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Call to Repentance
If you’ve been trying to earn your way into heaven, it’s time to stop striving and start surrendering. Today can be the day everything changes. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Don’t wait for a better moment. Turn from your sin, believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. He is calling—respond to Him today.

Call to Action
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