Bible Verse
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We've bought into a lie that spiritual growth means needing God less. Somewhere along the way, we started believing that the longer we follow Jesus, the less we should stumble, wander, or feel empty inside. So when we find ourselves depleted again—when our souls feel dry and we've drifted off course—shame rushes in like a flood. We think something must be wrong with us because "mature" Christians shouldn't need this much help. Today, we're going to break free from that crushing expectation and discover why God restoring our souls isn't a sign of failure but proof that we belong to a Shepherd who never stops bringing His sheep back home.
Short Devotional
Here's what we rarely talk about in church: even sheep in green pastures need restoration. David wrote Psalm 23 as a shepherd who became a king, and he knew something critical—well-fed sheep still wander. They still lie down wrong and can't get back up. They still drift toward dangerous ground. The restoration God offers isn't emergency care for crisis moments; it's the daily rhythm of being brought back to wholeness. When we read "He restores my soul," we're not looking at a one-time rescue but an ongoing pattern of care. The question isn't whether we'll need restoration again. The question is whether we'll let shame keep us from receiving it.
Think about how often we hide our depletion from other Christians because we don't want them to think we're struggling. We paste on smiles at church while our souls are gasping for air. We volunteer for another ministry while running on fumes. But God doesn't measure our maturity by how little we need Him—He measures it by how quickly we return when we realize we've drifted. Let's bring our tired souls to the One who never grows weary of bringing us back.
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
I come to You today carrying the weight of expectations I was never meant to bear. I've believed the lie that spiritual maturity means needing You less, and that shame has kept me from running to You when my soul feels empty and lost.
Forgive me for hiding my depletion behind a mask of having it all together. Forgive me for treating my need for restoration as a character flaw instead of recognizing it as part of being human and depending on You.
Thank You that You restore my soul not because I've earned it but because Your name is attached to my life. Thank You that You're not disappointed when I need bringing back again.
You're the Shepherd who never tires of pursuing wandering sheep, and I'm grateful that my restoration is as certain as Your reputation.
I confess that I'm tired—not just physically but deep down in places I don't always acknowledge. I've drifted toward paths that looked right but left me more depleted than before.
I need You to bring me back, to renew my strength, and to lead me in ways that actually bring life instead of just looking impressive to others.
Help me release the shame that tells me I should be past needing this much help. Teach me to measure maturity not by my independence but by how quickly I return to You.
Lead me in paths of righteousness, not because I've perfected the journey, but for Your name's sake.
In Jesus' name, who came for the lost and wandering, Amen.
Journaling Prompts
When was the last time you felt depleted or disoriented spiritually but hid it because you thought you "should be past this by now"? What would it look like to be honest about that need instead?
If God measures your spiritual maturity by how quickly you return to Him when you drift rather than by how rarely you drift, how does that change the way you view your current season?
What specific expectations about "being a good Christian" are exhausting you right now? Which of those expectations actually came from God, and which did you pick up from church culture or other people's opinions?
If shame wasn't stopping you, what would you honestly ask God to restore in your life right now? What part of you feels too broken or too repeatedly broken to bring to Him?
You don't graduate from needing God's restoration—you just get better at recognizing when you need it and running toward Him instead of away. The Shepherd who brought you back the first time is the same Shepherd who will bring you back today, tomorrow, and every time your soul needs renewing. Keep coming back, because that's what mature sheep do.
Until next time,
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May He make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you and give you peace.
God Bless!
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