I’ve been looking for you

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

“Sara, I’ve been looking for you!”

So came the cry that changed my life, uttered by my husband David in October 2022.

It was my last day serving with Samaritan’s Purse in Fort Myers, Florida, following Hurricane Ian. I had spent the previous 6 days helping homeowners gut their storm-ravaged homes – removing personal belongings, floodwater-soaked insulation, clothing, appliances, and even rotten food from refrigerators. Our labor of love helped hurting individuals see their way forward, so contractors could begin rebuilding their houses. More importantly, our prayers and compassion brought the love of Christ to everyone we helped.  

On my last day, as we returned to our church base camp, David asked our disaster response team to sign his Samaritan’s Purse Bible before we all went our separate ways. I was excited to do so, but disappointed that I didn’t get to say goodbye to him, as he disappeared while I was writing. After handing off David’s copy of God’s Word to another team member, I reentered the building to gather my belongings and load my car for the journey home.    

Before leaving, I decided to change out of my dirty work clothes before hitting the road. Upon reentering the bathroom, I spotted my first miracle. There, on a bench outside the shower stall, sat the handcrafted toiletry bag my sister had made me. Had I not returned to change, I never would have seen it, nor would I have known it was missing until days later. In fact, I might never have found it again.

Leaving the restrooms, I should have turned left to the parking lot and headed home.

Instead, I believe God’s angels turned me right so I would exit the building the wrong way. What makes me say so? Because it was there, outside the back of the church, in an area I had no purpose in visiting, that I heard David’s call: “Sara, I’ve been looking for you!”

As David and I smiled at one another across the campus, I waved, and he came rushing over to hug me. After doing so, he asked if he could stop by my house on his way home to Virginia – thereby forever altering my life. Had I not gone back into the building, had I not turned right instead of left after doing so, had I not gone out of a door I had no reason to exit, I might never have seen David again.

But that’s not what God wanted, for both of us.

The rest is, as they say, “history.” 

So it is with God’s pursuit of all of us. From before we were born, our Heavenly Father has pursued our hearts. He longs for us to find Him and call Him Lord. Our free will allows us to pursue our own selfishness or God’s grace. The choice is always ours. He is always ready for us to walk into His open arms, to turn the corner, and pursue His faithfulness.

 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me.” (Proverbs 8:17)

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11)

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

Just as David was looking for me, I was looking for Him – without even knowing it. He was the other half of my heart that I never thought I’d find, the happiness I never thought I’d experience. We found unspeakable joy when we found each other.

So it is for all of us when we surrender to our Savior. We can only find what has been missing in our lives, the happiness beyond comprehension, the fulfillment of all that we’ve been seeking, if we invite Christ into our hearts. More than a soulmate, Jesus Christ is our soul’s eternal Savior. He’s the only one who can give us eternal life and fulfillment beyond comparison if we will turn our hearts, minds, and souls over to Him.

“I’ve been looking for you,” says God. Turn right and walk into His waiting arms. Let the angels guide you to eternal life in Christ Jesus. Surrender and be made whole. You might never find Him if you don’t seek Him. Your Heavenly Father has been waiting for you.