There are times in our spiritual journey when human help, sympathy, or religious rituals don't bring the comfort we need. Why does God allow this? Maybe because we've been relying too much on things other than Him. When He takes away what we've depended on, He leads us back to Himself. It's a true blessing to stay close to the source.

When our resources are full, like Hagar and Ishmael, we might settle in the wilderness. But when those dry up, we're driven to say, "You, God, see me." Like the prodigal son, we forget our Father's house and settle for less. Even religious practices can become idols if they keep us from God. Anything that takes God's place becomes a hindrance, even if it seems good.

The prodigal was actually safest when he returned to his father because there was nowhere else to find sustenance. Our Lord uses the hard times to draw us closer to Himself. The best place for a Christian is relying solely on God's grace, standing continually in that first place—"Having nothing, and yet possessing everything." Let's not base our faith on our holiness, efforts, or feelings but on Christ's complete atonement. We're saved because we're complete in Him. With nothing of our own to cling to, we rest on Jesus—His passion and holy life is our only solid foundation. When we're truly thirsty, we eagerly turn back to the source of life.