And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him. — Luke 15:20
I will never forget a situation with one of my former employees many years ago. I had made a poor decision, one they had warned me against, and I knew an apology was long overdue. But my human nature did its best to delay the inevitable. I avoided the conversation. I told myself I would get to it eventually.
Then one day, our paths crossed in a hallway. I was heading into a meeting, and there they were. I braced myself for the awkwardness.
What happened next surprised me. Rather than looking away or stepping aside, they walked toward me. Not with resentment. Almost with grace. It was as if they were making it easier for me to do what I already knew I needed to do. I apologized. The weight I had been carrying lifted almost immediately.
I have thought about that moment often since then. And I cannot read Luke 15 without it coming back to me.
The story of the prodigal son is familiar to most. A young man demands his inheritance, wastes it, and finds himself broken and far from home. He rehearses his apology on the long walk back, certain he has forfeited the right to be called a son. What he does not know is that someone has been watching the road.
When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him.
He had not arrived. He had not yet spoken a word of repentance. He was still a great way off. And yet the father saw him, and ran. This detail is not incidental. It is the heart of the story.
The father was not waiting inside, arms crossed, prepared to hear an explanation. He was watching. Looking toward the horizon with the kind of attention that only love produces. And the moment he saw his son in the distance, he did not wait for him to close the gap. He ran to meet him.
That is the posture of God toward us.
We sometimes imagine that returning to God requires us to arrive in better condition. That we must have the right words prepared, the right amount of remorse, the right distance behind us before He will receive us. But the father in this story did not wait for any of that. He saw his son coming and moved toward him.
God is not standing at a distance, waiting to see if you will make it all the way. He sees you. Even now. Even in the middle of whatever road you are on. And His response to your returning is not reluctant acceptance. It is pursuit.
If there is something that has put distance between you and God, do not let the length of the road discourage you. The father is already watching. Take the next step. He will close the rest.
These devotionals are written to encourage, challenge, and support you in your walk with God. If they are meaningful to you, you can subscribe and receive them by email.
Want encouragement sent directly to you?
Join our WhatsApp channel for devotional reminders and ministry updates.
You can also receive devotional updates via our Telegram channel.
About Another Well Ministries
Another Well Ministries exists to help people slow down, listen deeply, and encounter God in the ordinary places of life. Through devotionals, reflections, and spiritual resources, we seek to create space for faith to be formed with honesty, grace, and hope.
To learn more about the heart of the ministry or explore additional resources, visit anotherwell.org.
