Coming Home - a Devotional for the Prodigal HeartSample

Day Four:

Learning to Walk Again

Scripture Focus:
“He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.” — Psalm 18:33 (NIV)
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
“Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ … ‘Feed my sheep.’” — John 21:17 (NIV)

Devotional:
There’s a strange disorientation that comes after you finally return to God. You’ve survived the crash, been wrapped in grace, maybe even dared to believe you’re forgiven—and then… what now?

I remember feeling completely lost after the initial wave of healing. It was like I had stepped back into life with new eyes but unsure feet. I knew I couldn’t go back to what broke me, but I didn’t quite know how to live whole either. I had to learn how to walk again—but this time with God.

It’s like Peter, post-resurrection.

He had followed Jesus, seen the miracles, walked on water, and then—in the most crucial moment—denied Him three times. That kind of failure doesn’t just sting; it sticks. So Peter did what many of us do when we don’t know what’s next: he went back to the familiar. He went fishing.

And that’s exactly where Jesus found him.

In John 21, Jesus doesn’t scold Peter. He doesn’t rehash the betrayal. He invites him to breakfast. Then He does something more powerful than a lecture—He restores him. Three times, mirroring the denial, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him. Three times, He commissions him to something greater.

Jesus doesn’t just forgive—He reassigns. He redefines.

That’s the grace we walk in. And let’s be clear—walking again isn’t easy. It takes practice. You might limp. You might stumble. But every step is sacred when it’s taken in surrender.

Psalm 18 says God makes our feet like those of a deer, able to tread high places. That doesn’t mean you’ll always feel strong—it means God will steady you in places you once slipped. And when your weakness tries to convince you to sit it out, 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds you: His power is made perfect in that very weakness.

So take the next step, even if your knees shake. Healing isn’t linear. Restoration takes time. But you’re not walking alone—you’re walking with the One who already saw the end from the beginning.

Takeaway:
God isn’t just trying to get you back on your feet—He’s inviting you to walk in purpose, even if you wobble.

Prayer:
Jesus, I don’t want to live stuck in shame or fear. I want to walk in the purpose You’ve called me to—even if I feel unqualified. Restore what’s been broken in me. Teach me how to live like someone who’s been forgiven, and show me what it means to follow You forward. One step at a time.

Journal Prompt:
Where in your life do you feel spiritually unsteady or unsure of your next step?

Write out a prayer asking God to restore your footing and give you courage to walk forward—even before you feel ready.