I was lost, but now I’m found.

I remember as a young child shopping with my mother.  I always held a fear deep inside that I would somehow get separated from her and be lost.  I remember one particular day we were shopping, and I got distracted by something in the store. When I reached over and tapped her on the leg, I looked up, and to my embarrassment, it was not her.  The panic began to overtake me, and I could not see her anywhere in sight.  With tears in my eyes, I made my way around the store, only to find her near to where I had been in the first place.  She was not worried because she hadn’t even noticed I wasn’t tagging along!  I started to cry, and relief filled my heart and mind once I was reconnected with her.  I had found her, and I was no longer lost.  From then on, I made sure to stick close to her so that I wouldn’t be lost again.

This makes me think of my own relationship with God.  As a young child, I knew Him.  He was always there for me, guiding and helping me.  But at a later point in my life, I slipped away.  I got distracted by the things of this world, and I was lost, lost in sin.  There were times I would panic, but instead of trusting in the one who could bring me ultimate comfort, I turned to friends, family, and worldly things.  I found those things brought momentary comfort, but something, someone, was missing from my life. It wasn’t until I later became a mother myself that I found him again.  But the thing is, I didn’t have to go searching for Him.  He was always right there, right by my side; I just couldn’t see Him.  I received Him back into my heart, and the worry and panic I had become so used to went away, and I was comforted by His presence in my life.

This reminds me of when Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15: 4-7 (NIV)  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. “

This parable brings me such comfort because it is not the sheep looking for the shepherd; it is the shepherd pursing and looking for His lost sheep.  When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home, and he says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’  Jesus is joyful and rejoicing over finding his lost sheep, the one that got away – just like I had.  Imagine the sound of rejoicing in heaven when we were all lost, and then He found us.  To think that all of heaven was rejoicing over the one lost sheep – what an incredible sound that must be!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me so much for sending your son to take the place of my sins.  Your son, who goes to you on my behalf, cares so much about me.  When I was lost, He went looking for me and rejoiced when He found me, and I repented of my sin.  My sorrows and worries were great, and I missed the one who loved me the most and could comfort and shelter me.  I’m so thankful that I was reconnected with Jesus and that I received Him into my heart, be Lord of my life, and be my shepherd.  There is no greater love than the love that you give us. Thank you that you never left me when you could have just turned your back on me; you didn’t.  When you tapped on the wall of my heart, I was not a stranger to you, for you knew me, and I received you into my heart.  In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.