Many of us are like Samson in the Bible.
We know deep down that God loves us. We’ve tasted His grace, heard His voice, and maybe even experienced His power working through us. Samson was chosen before birth — set apart by God and filled with supernatural strength. Just like Samson, we may have been blessed with talents, influence, or spiritual gifts meant to bring glory to God. But over time, as life happens and self-interest creeps in, we begin to drift.
We slowly forget the Source of our strength.
Samson began to live carelessly. He broke his Nazarite vow, played with temptation, and ignored godly boundaries — until he was finally captured, blinded, and bound by his enemies (Judges 16:21). It was only when everything was lost that Samson remembered God.
How often do we do the same?
We pursue our own plans, and only when crisis hits do we suddenly turn back to God — asking for just one more chance to make things right. But here’s a tough truth: like Samson, we often return not with repentance and surrender, but with desperation and weakened hope.
Look at Samson’s final prayer in Judges 16:28:
“Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more…”
It sounds humble, but it also reveals something deeper — a man who had lost faith in God’s long-term purpose for him and only asked for strength to die with his enemies.
He prayed to end well, but not to live differently.
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Are We Prioritizing God — or Just His Power?
This is where we must reflect:
• Are we seeking God for relationship, or only when we need a rescue?
• Is our heart still in tune with God’s purpose, or have we become more focused on results, success, and the gifts rather than the Giver?
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who does mighty things “in His name” will enter the kingdom — only those who do the will of the Father. That means knowing Him, not just using what He gave us.
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Other Biblical Examples Like Samson
• King Saul: He was chosen and anointed, but lost favor with God because he valued the approval of people over obedience to God (1 Samuel 15). Even when he cried out, the Spirit had departed from him.
• The Prodigal Son (Luke 15): He left his father’s house with blessings, wasted them, and only came back when he was empty. But unlike Samson, he returned with humility — and found restoration.
• Peter: Denied Jesus three times, yet repented sincerely and was restored — going on to lead the early Church. His return to God was not from hopelessness, but brokenness.
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How Will You Respond If You’re in Samson’s Shoes?
If you’ve drifted from God, recognize it’s not too late — but don’t wait until you’ve lost everything. Don’t wait until the strength is gone, the platform is broken, or the gift is misused. Come back while you can still walk in His purpose, not just fall into His mercy.
Let your prayer be more than, “God, help me one last time.”
Let it be: “God, restore my heart. Align my life with You again.”
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Final Thought
John 3:16 reminds us that God so loved the world — not just when we were strong, but when we were broken, sinful, and far from Him. He’s a loving Father, and His arms are always open. But we must return with more than desperation — we must return with surrender.
Don’t wait for a prison to remember God. Let today be your return.
Losing Strength, Finding Mercy
