Just recently I saw a documentary on TV about the work of beach watchers. They were on the lookout for a small child that was missing. The nervous mom stood next to the B-watch team, tears in her eyes. You could see the terrible anguish in her face… where could her child be? I could so relate to her, because it brought back some horrible memories from our own life.
‘Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol [the place of the dead], behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning or dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Your hand lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.’ Psalm 139:7
When a child is missing
I know what it’s like when a child – although young adult – is missing… not for one day, but for weeks. I won’t go into detail, but the fear and anguish, the sleepless nights, the feeling of irrational anger and guilt, all at the same time… and that nagging question going on and on in my mind… ‘where is he, where is my child?’ And then… the immense relief when we got a phone call and heard our son was still alive and safe!
Never out of sight
This ‘not knowing’ will never happen to our heavenly Father. He does not run around frantically in search for you and me. He does not fret, nor bite His fingernails. He knows exactly where we are and what we do. No matter how lost we feel sometimes… from His point of view we are never out of sight. Even darkness cannot hide us from Him. He knows our whereabouts, He is aware of the situation we are in, He even knows our very thoughts. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Lost and found
What does it mean then to be lost like the Prodigal in the parable we read in Luke 15, where the father says to his eldest son: ‘Your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found’? This father was not running around to find his lost son. Yet, He knows exactly where we are. How come? Is He indifferent? Is He playing games with us? No! The Bible says ‘His eyes run to and fro’ (Chron. 16:9). He sees us wherever we are. When we finally come to our senses and realize that our own way does not get us very far… that His way is the best, that He is the only One Who can be trusted, because of His great love for us. That is the moment we realize we are truly lost without Him.
Nothing is hidden from Him.
And you know what? In that moment of surrender to Him, we will experience His immense love… His arms wide open… ready to forgive. When we confess our sins, He does not find fault with us, He will never say: ‘I told you so.’ He is not angry. He takes us in His arms and brings us home.
Do not stay away
Do you feel lost sometimes? Are you at a crossroad and you don’t know where to go? Well, you don’t need to feel lost. You don’t have to, unless you choose to stay away from the only One who knows you inside out. Why not come to Him, your Creator and Savior? He knows you through and through and waits patiently for you to make that decision… for that wonderful moment you are ready to surrender and throw yourself in His arms of love. His love and peace are overflowing. Only then you will finally be home. Please don’t hesitate too long… come to Him just as you are. He is only a prayer away.
Read also: God is after your heart
