Finding God in Lost Things
Have you ever lost something and searched everywhere, only to come up empty-handed? That's exactly what happened with my dog's favorite toy, Robby the Robot. This wasn't just any toy. It was a clever little contraption that would roll and wobble around, dispensing treats as it went. Tess adored it, probably because it combined two of her greatest loves: play and food.
But one day, Robby mysteriously vanished. At first, I wasn't too concerned. Tess has a habit of rolling and batting her toys into the oddest places, so I assumed he'd turn up eventually. However, as days turned into weeks, I became increasingly determined to solve the mystery of the missing robot.
I crawled on my hands and knees, peering under every piece of furniture. I checked behind bookcases, inside cupboards, and even among the many boots and shoes by the door. Jason and I moved the sofa, investigated the yard, and searched places where Robby couldn't possibly be, like the linen closet and the kitchen drawers. Still, there was no Robby.
This reminds me of how we often approach our spiritual journey. Sometimes, we find ourselves searching for God's presence, answers, or direction in all the wrong places. We look everywhere except where He wants to be found.
The Bible tells us in Acts 17:27, "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." What a beautiful promise! God isn't playing hide and seek with us. He's not trying to make it difficult to find Him. He's right there, closer than we might think.
Yet how often do we search for answers in self-help books, social media posts, or the latest spiritual trends while our Bibles gather dust on the shelf? How frequently do we seek guidance from everyone except God Himself through prayer? We exhaust ourselves, looking in all the wrong places when the Lord is right there, waiting for us to turn to Him.
While Robby the Robot remains missing (much to Tess's disappointment), this situation has taught me a valuable lesson about seeking God. We don't need to complicate things when we're feeling lost or searching for answers. We don't need to search high and low or try every possible solution. Sometimes, the answer is as simple as opening our Bibles, getting on our knees in prayer, or being still enough to hear His voice.
Perhaps today, you're searching for direction, purpose, peace, or answers to life's big questions. May I gently remind you that while Robby might be lost forever, God is never hidden from those who truly seek Him. He's not playing games or trying to confuse us. He's right here, waiting to be found by those who seek Him with their whole hearts.