Turning Again
Building on yesterday’s reflection on the patience of God, we turn today to Joel 2:12–13:
“But there’s also this, it’s not too late — God’s personal Message! — ‘Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!’ Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful.” (The Message)
In Old Testament times, repentance was often visible. People tore their clothes, dressed in sackcloth, and sat in ashes. These outward actions expressed grief, humility, and sorrow for wrongdoing. They were powerful symbols, but symbols nonetheless.
Through the prophet Joel, God presses deeper. What the Lord desires is not simply a performance of repentance, but transformation at the centre of our being. “Rend your hearts,” God says, not your garments. True turning always begins on the inside.
N. T. Wright describes repentance as a serious turning away from life-patterns that distort our humanity. It is not merely feeling sorry, but recognising how far we have fallen short of reflecting God’s image — missing the mark of true humanness. Repentance is a fundamental reorientation of life: a turning towards the kingdom of God, a response to God’s gracious summons to love and obedience, rather than simply regret over rule-breaking.
Repentance, then, is never shallow. It involves the whole person:
- the mind, awakened to truth and conviction;
- the heart, softened by godly sorrow;
- the will, choosing to turn away from sin and towards life-giving obedience.
Imagine a house with a cracked window.
You might draw the curtains to hide the damage, rearrange the furniture so it’s less noticeable, or keep guests away from that room. But the cold still seeps in. The crack still widens.
God does not ask us to rearrange our lives to disguise the broken places. He invites us to open the window fully, to let the light in, and to allow repair to begin. Tearing garments hides nothing; rending hearts allows healing.
Challenge
Choose one small, concrete step that reflects a heart truly turning back to God.
Prayer
Gracious and merciful God,
You call us back, not with anger, but with kindness.
We confess that too often we change appearances rather than hearts.
Search us, O God, and show us where we have settled for shallow sorrow
instead of true turning.
Create in us hearts that are open, honest, and ready to change.
Give us courage to turn away from all that distorts your image in us,
and grace to walk again in the way of your kingdom.
We return to you, trusting in your mercy,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
