Never Lost
There once was a little girl who had a big heart. She loved God, she loved His creation, and she loved people. But along life’s journey, her big heart was broken and shattered many times over, until all that remained were tiny pieces. Without her heartbeat’s compass, she lost her way, and she lost herself. But God never lost her.
God saw her and called to her. He even called her to the wilderness. She didn’t like it there, though. It was lonely, scary, and full of unpleasant surprises. At times she thought she might die there. But God protected her, and He called her to move forward. So she journeyed on.
There were twists and turns, hills and valleys, and mountains to climb. So many mountains. The climb became steep. But God kept calling, so she kept climbing. Until one day she was too tired to climb anymore. And God told her to rest.
But rest didn’t come easy. Even her sleep was restless. Whether asleep or awake, nightmares came. No rest for the weary it seemed. She ached body and soul.
But even there, God was with her. That’s where He called her closer. And that’s where she found rest – there in His arms. And finally, sleep came.
At morning’s light, she awoke and looked around. The landscape looked different, though vaguely familiar. The rising sun splayed rainbow colors across the sky. Green meadows overflowed with vibrant wildflowers. Quiet waters meandered through trees of green.
She stood and began to walk among the fields and forests. She delighted in delicate flowers and savored honeysuckle scents. She sang with birds and danced with butterflies. She romped with rabbits and soaked in the sun with dragonflies. She shared shade with trees and sat still in gentle breezes.
As day turned to night, she surfed the sky on sunset waves. She glowed with the fireflies and joined the crickets’ chorus. She basked in the moonlight and twinkled with the stars.
Night and day, her senses were awakened to God’s beauty all around. And as she lingered there, she found renewal and restoration. She found hope and healing. She found purpose and peace.
She found herself.
The broken, shattered pieces of her heart began to come back together and fill up again with the big love she once had. She then realized, this love had never left her. It was there all along, just waiting to be rediscovered. Now found, she hopes to never lose sight of it again. To never lose sight of her true self as God made her to be. To never lose sight of God.
And she wants everyone to know. God is all around, everywhere, every day, every moment, just waiting to be found. And when we find God, we find ourselves. We are never so lost that we can’t be found.
“I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.” Ezekiel 34:16 (NLT)
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
“And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will let Myself be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NASB)
