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It’s in here somewhere… I just know it. This is the last place I saw it… I think.
I shuffled through the drawer, lifting up papers and moving around odds and ends, searching.
“Oh, look at this! I haven’t seen this in a long time! It’s a flower from our wedding!”
I stared at it for awhile, remembering that special day and seeing my husband, our son, and my father in-law waiting for us at the end of the aisle.
I pushed aside another paper and realized it was a poem my mother in-law wrote for me for my birthday several years ago.
Okay, back to searching.
“Aww, look at this! It’s a picture of Christopher and my dad! Chris was so little!”
Searching. I know it’s in here… now, what was I searching for? I came in here with intention. I was looking for something. Think. What was it?
Luke 2:36-38
“And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Anna, a woman of God. Such an incredible example to us. She was searching for something in particular, and after years of waiting, He came. Mary and Joseph arrived with Jesus, and Anna, along with Simeon, were two of the first to see the long-awaited Messiah!
What I love about this passage is the intent on Anna’s part. Notice in the scripture where it says she stayed in the temple. She was always there. She was focused on one thing and determined to not get distracted. This was the closest place she knew to being with the Lord and she knew that was the most important thing in her life. And when He arrived, she knew exactly who He was because she had been focused on searching for Him.
In fact, it says that she told all that searched for help in Jerusalem of who Jesus was.
She had found what she was searching for and she made sure to guide others to Him as well.
In this world, we can get so distracted. We have good intentions, but our focus begins to shift. None of it matters if it’s not of Christ.
Do we really get that?
Man. This is a deep breath moment and a shaking my head in shame at myself. How do we get so off track sometimes? Christ is and should be the center of our attention.
Not worry.
Not fear.
Not the future and how things are going to turn out.
Not… you fill in the blank.
Jesus. That’s it.
Anna had it figured out. She sought one thing and found it.
What are you searching for today? All happiness, joy, fulfillment, purpose, anew answers can be found in one – Jesus Christ.
Have you found Him?
And if you have, are you guiding others to Him?
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