I Have Been Found
Have you ever experienced losing something so important to you that you will stop everything just to find it? No matter what it is, it is so important that it consumes your thoughts and actions until you find it.
As I dreamed last night, I was reminded of this feeling. In my dream, I was on vacation and I had my dogs with me. It was time to leave and I couldn't find them anywhere. For some reason, the people I was with decided we had to leave and we didn't have time to look for them. No matter how much I pleaded or begged, they wouldn't let me go search for them. I was devastated, worried, and distraught at the fear of losing them. In my protest, I was able to convince them to stop the car. At this point, we had been driving for a bit already - I didn't care. I got out of the car and ran. I ran for I don't know how long until I got back to the place my dogs had been left. They weren't there.
I remember feeling a sense of dread and heartache. My little girls weren't there! Where were they? Were they okay? I was so worried but I wasn't about to give up! I frantically searched and searched for them. I look everywhere! After, what seemed like a long time, I finally found Roxy. She had been picked up by a family. She was safe, but it wasn't enough that she was safe. I wanted her back with me, so I could guarantee she was safe and protected.
In finding her, I was so happy but there was still a sense of fear. I was still missing one. As happy as I was to find the one, there was still one missing. I continued searching! I determined that I wouldn't stop until I found her! I remember, in my dream, I was walking out over this bridge. I looked over the bridge at the street below and to my surprise and joy, I found Ellie. I called out to her and she heard me. Upon hearing my voice, she became excited and we both started searching for a way to get to each other. When we finally did, the joy I had in my heart exploded. All the pain and heartache I had felt was gone! All I felt was love and relief. My lost girls were found!
We are all lost. We all belong to and are loved by an amazing creator, yet most of us are no longer in His care. We have wandered away and we have no idea that He is frantically searching for us! As much as I care for my dogs and as much as I felt the need to find them, it is only a small portion of what our God feels for us!
Your situation may make you feel safe, as it did with Roxy in the dream. She was safe and cared for, but that wasn’t enough! The same goes for our Father! He loves you so much! He wants you to know How much He loves you! He wants to be the one to care for you and keep you safe!
He is calling for you, searching for you. He is calling your name trying to get your attention. God is calling your name. All you have to do is to hear Him, recognize His voice and start trying to find Him. Listen for where His voice is and start running in that direction. He is always there, always calling. We just have to hear His voice!
The cool thing, even if you were the only one lost or missing, He would still be searching for you. In my dream, I had found one, but that wasn't enough. I had to find the other! The same with you! He loves you so much that He will not stop searching for you or calling for you! The Bible paints a picture of this concept brilliantly in Luke chapter 15.
“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” 8“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ 10In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Both of these examples, illustrate just how much our Savior loves us. The shepherd and the woman both represent how God searches for us. In finding us, He boasts about us! His joy is uncontrollable!
I encourage you to listen for His voice. Once you hear it, don't let that be the end! Run to Him! He has been searching for you and He won't give up! You are more precious to Him than you know. You are called and sought after. My prayer is that you would be able to say, "I have been found!"