Julia Poe and LOST & FOUND are some of my new favorite singers, bands that I have “discovered” this year. This new song “HOME AGAIN” by Julia Poe, also featuring Reagan James Broome and LOST & FOUND was released on June 26. And I LOVE IT!

When I first heard this song, I loved the upbeat sound and catchy lyrics. But I think I didn’t really understand it when I first listened to it. It sounded like a romance/love song… but to God??? The more I have listened to it over the past couple months, I understand it differently.

It is really a song about the return of the Prodigal.

Scripture records the Parable of the Lost Son only in Luke 15:

¹¹ He also said, “A man had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate I have coming to me.’ So he distributed the assets to them. ¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he had and traveled to a distant country, where he squandered his estate in foolish living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he had nothing. ¹⁵ Then he went to work for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to eat his fill from the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one would give him anything. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. ¹⁹ I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.”’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him.

– LUKE 15:11-20 (CSB)

Jesus’ parable about the Prodigal Son is one that I seem to revisit over and over. There have been seasons where I seem to think I can do things better than the plans that God has for me. I go off and make a mess and struggle. But my loving, Heavenly Father, always welcomes me back.

The unmerited mercy of God never fails. He is faithful, even when I am unfaithful. He never gives up. He never leaves nor forsakes me.

The Christian household, despite the repetitive attacks to it the past few decades, is truly God’s design for every person, and every home. A husband and wife in a loving, self-sacrificing relationship, where each serves the other like Christ serves the church, and out of that relationship come the product of their love: their children. Those children benefit from that love, are secure in that love, knowing that they are always safe and protected in that home. All their needs are met and they thrive there.

I believe God wants to put everyone into a “home.” Into a good, life-giving relationship with a partner, a complement, a companion, a best friend to do life together, which produces children, where they can enjoy the fruits of parenting. I think that in homes even when there are struggles, differences of opinions, contrasting personalities, each member of that family can learn to grow, thrive and overcome challenges that will allow them to grow into their full potential. But it is never perfect and it is definitely not easy. But nothing worth doing ever is.

If “home” for you wasn’t what you wanted or didn’t turn out to be what you dreamed of, God can always redeem your past and He can always re-write your story. I know He is still in the process of doing this in my life.

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“HOME AGAIN” lyrics by Julia Petersen, Reagan Broome, Micah Palacio, Zac Lawson, Jacob Petersen:

[Intro: Micah Palace]
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh

[Verse 1: Julia Poe]
Here I stand with dirty hands
Knowing I got nothing left
Turn my riches into rags
There’s no way You take me back
I searched the world, went high and low
But nowhere else felt quite like home

[Chorus: Julia Poe]
You ran down that road to meet me
Didn’t matter where I’d been
You still put Your arms around me
Feels so good to be home again
You changed my whole life completely
I can’t go back again
You ran down that road to meet me
Feels so good to be home, home again
Home again

[Verse 2: Reagan James Broome & Julia Poe]
Here I stand with open hands
I worship You with all I have
I searchеd the world, went high and low
But nowherе else felt quite like home

[Chorus: Reagan James Broome & Julia Poe]
You ran down that road to meet me
Didn’t matter where I’d been
You still put your arms around me
Feels so good to be home again
You changed my whole life completely
I can’t go back again
You ran down that road to meet me
Feels so good to be home, home again
Home again

[Verse 3: Micah Palace & Julia Poe]
I have one, two, three, four more problems
Now I walk this road alone
Now I sit back ’cause I know You got ’em
God I give You control
I know that You’re with me
My problems, Your victory
Is written, now I’m free
Nothing felt like home ’til

[Chorus: Micah Palace & Julia Poe]
You ran down that road to meet me
Didn’t matter where I’d been
You still put Your arms around me
Feels so good to be home again
You changed my whole life completely
I can’t go back again
You ran down that road to meet me
Feels so good to be home, home again
Home again