“'Why were you looking for Me?' He asked. 'Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?' But they did not understand the statement He was making to them. Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart." Luke 2:49-51
This past week Rayce went on one of his normal adventures, but the dogs came back without him. Ricky went to go look for him first. I call in a few minutes and when he said he hadn't found him I put on shoes and just start running. As I'm racing to our normal path I see Rayce and my dad across the pasture. He had detoured to talk to my dad and the dogs came on home without him. I was shaking and crying, but the relief that he was ok was more than I can describe.
As I read this passage from Luke, I think of their panic as parents. They thought they lost the Son of God! My favorite part of the story is that Mary treasured up all these things in her heart. She knew that He was not ordinary, and He knew exactly where He was. He was growing, learning and maturing. She had to wonder what was ahead as she thought about these things.
There was a purpose for every time He was "late". He was delayed getting to the house of Jairus to heal his 12 year old daughter because He was caught in a crowd asking who touched Him. He was not rushed, and He made time for the woman. Jesus didn't want to just heal her body, He wanted to call her "daughter" and redeem her identity. Then He was "late" to heal Lazarus, but He wasn't actually late. He was right on time for a miracle that would bring He and His Father glory.
The older I get the more I see this beautiful tapestry He weaves in our lives. The people He connects us with, the restoration stories, and the way His timing is perfect. Waiting is hard and searching is tiring, but we can trust Him. He is a Good Father, Jesus is our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit is a perfect Helper. I pray today that you can ponder what God is up to in your life. He sees you my friend, He hasn't forgotten you and you haven't lost Him. Maybe today He is saying, "Why are you looking for Me?" He is right there with you. Believe that He working it out and that He will get the glory when He finishes the work that He has started. Treasure your moments in your heart, the heart that belongs to Him, and trust Him to show you His glory.
photo by: Fa Barboza on unsplash
Dig Deeper
1 Peter 1:18-19 | Romans 8:28 | John 11