James Pell and three of his buddies wandered into treacherous territory while snowboarding in the French Alps. Reflecting on the incident, Pell said, “We came to a cliff ledge and quickly realized [we would not] be able to ride out of the area. But by [that] time . . . we were stuck.”

If you’ve ever wandered off spiritually, you understand how easy it is to get into a situation that seems hopeless. The buzz of being in an off-limits area quickly grows quiet.

When the Israelites made the disastrous decision to worship Baal and some handcrafted silver idols (Hosea 13:1-2), God sent them a message through the prophet Hosea. He outlined what to do to get back to a place of spiritual safety.

First, Hosea instructed them to “Return to the Lord. Say to Him, ‘Forgive all our sins’” (Hosea 14:2). We too need to repent if we want to renew our relationship with Jesus after a time of wandering away.

Once we humbly admit our sin and continue no more in it, it’s time to praise God for His mercy (Hosea 14:3). The Bible assures us that “people who . . . confess [their sins] and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). While we may suffer some earthly consequences for backsliding, God makes it possible for our relationship with Him to be restored.

Finally, we have to trust in our Father’s forgiveness. God said, “I will heal you of your faithlessness; My love will know no bounds, for My anger will be gone forever” (Hosea 14:4). Although guilt may try to stalk us, God’s forgiveness sets us free from past sin.

If you’re in an off-limits area, remember Hosea’s words to the Israelites, “The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them” (Hosea 14:9).