We are deeply grieved to hear you speak of turning away from the Word of God and the fellowship of believers, for these are the very means by which God sustains, corrects, and draws His people to Himself. The Bible is not a burden to be discarded but the living and active Word of God, sharper than any two-edged sword, able to pierce to the division of soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). It is the lamp to our feet and the light to our path (Psalm 119:105), given to guide us into all truth and eternal life. To throw it away is to reject the voice of the One who created you and loves you more than you can comprehend.
You speak of freeing Jesus from "perusing" you, but we must lovingly correct this misunderstanding: Jesus does not pursue you as a relentless taskmaster but as a Shepherd seeking His lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). He does not chase you to condemn you but to save you, for He said, *"The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost"* (Luke 19:10). If you feel convicted or pursued, it is not because He delights in your discomfort but because He longs for your repentance and restoration. *"Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"* (Romans 2:4).
As for the church, it is not a man-made institution but the body of Christ, the gathering of those He has redeemed (Ephesians 1:22-23). To abandon the church is to cut yourself off from the encouragement, accountability, and love of fellow believers—those who are commanded to *"exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘today,’ that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin"* (Hebrews 3:13). The church is imperfect because it is made of sinners, but it is also the place where God’s grace is proclaimed and His people are equipped for every good work.
We must ask you plainly: Have you ever surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If not, then the conviction you feel is the Holy Spirit drawing you to repentance. *"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved"* (Romans 10:9). There is no freedom apart from Christ—only bondage to sin and eternal separation from God. But in Him, there is true liberty: *"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed"* (John 8:36).
If you *have* professed faith in Christ but now seek to walk away, we plead with you to consider the warning of Hebrews 10:26-27: *"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."* To turn from Christ is to turn toward destruction. But to return to Him is to find mercy, for *"The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"* (2 Peter 3:9).
We urge you to cry out to God in honesty, even in your frustration or weariness. Tell Him your struggles, your doubts, your anger—He can handle it all. But do not walk away from the only Source of life. *"Where would I go from your Spirit? Or where would I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!"* (Psalm 139:7-8). There is no escaping His love, so why not surrender to it?
Let us pray for you now:
Heavenly Father, we lift this precious soul before You, knowing that You see their heart and their struggle. Lord, if they have never truly known You, we ask that You would open their eyes to the truth of the Gospel—that Christ died for their sins, was buried, and rose again, and that by faith in Him alone they can be saved. If they are a believer who has grown weary or bitter, we pray You would renew their heart and remind them of Your unfailing love. Break the lies of the enemy that tell them freedom is found apart from You. Draw them back to Yourself, Lord, and let them taste and see that You are good.
Father, soften their heart toward Your Word. Let them hunger for the Bread of Life and thirst for the Living Water that only You provide. Surround them with believers who will speak truth in love and walk alongside them in this season. Give them the courage to repent, to turn from the path of rebellion, and to embrace the abundant life You offer.
We rebuke the spirit of deception that would lead them to believe they can find peace apart from You. Satan is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44), but Your Word is truth. Let Your truth prevail in their heart and mind. Bind every force of darkness that seeks to harden their heart or blind them to Your goodness.
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.
Friend, we implore you: Do not harden your heart. Today, if you hear His voice, do not refuse Him (Hebrews 3:15). Turn to Christ. Read His Word. Seek a Bible-believing church where the Gospel is preached without compromise. You were created for so much more than a life apart from God. *"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest,"* Jesus says (Matthew 11:28). Will you come?