Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he . . . gathered from . . . east and west, from north and south.

— Psalm 107:2-3

There are many ways to leave home or to be away from home, and we can do that for lots of reasons. Sometimes we may travel by choice, and other times we may have little or no choice at all in the matter.

But there is only one way to return or to find a new home— and that is by the mercy of God.

Psalm 107 recalls some of the stories of God’s people whom he rescued and brought back again. Though we may lose direction in different ways— perhaps our lives seem like a trackless wilderness (v. 4), or like a literal or figurative prison sentence (v. 10)—the story of redemption is the same: God’s people cry out for help (vv. 6, 13), and God honors the cries of those who turn to him for salvation (vv. 6-7, 13-14). The story is repeated throughout this psalm: God has brought us back, and we are thankful for his deliverance (vv. 8-9, 15-16, 21, 31).

Today, we who know about Christ’s finished work for us have all the more reason to celebrate God’s mighty acts for his people. No matter how we may have wandered away in our spiritual lives, we know that God has redeemed us completely through his Son, Jesus Christ. Let our story be added today to those whom God has redeemed.

Father, thank you for your unfailing love and your amazing rescue. We cry out to you, Lord, and, finding our salvation in Jesus, give you thanks in his name. Amen.