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It was a sunny Saturday in late summer. I was home with my two daughters, Harley (5) and Darby (1), enjoying the beautiful day. We had been sitting on the front porch swing—singing, talking, and giggling. After a while, it was time to put Darby down for a nap. I told Harley to hang out on the swing for a few minutes and that I’d be back after I got her little sister to sleep.

About 15 minutes later, I tiptoed out of Darby’s bedroom and made my way back to the front porch to enjoy some quiet time with my oldest. But when I stepped outside, the swing was empty. The front porch was deserted.

“That’s odd,” I thought to myself. “Where’d she go?”

I checked her bedroom—nothing. I started to feel uneasy but stayed calm as I searched the house, calling her name. Still nothing. Stepping back outside, I walked around the yard, my voice growing louder, more urgent. No answer. She was gone.

Panic gripped me. My calls turned into desperate shouts. I ran through the house, screaming for her over and over, pleading for her to come out, telling her this wasn’t a game. But the only response was silence.

By now, a while had passed since I last saw her. My heart pounded as fear took over. I grabbed my phone, my hands shaking. When my husband answered, I choked out, “Harley’s gone. I can’t find her. Please come home.” He didn’t hesitate. “I’m on my way.”

Next, I called my dad. I barely got the words out before he said, “I’m coming.”

I can’t put into words what went through my mind over the next few minutes. The thoughts racing through my head were unbearable. The kiddie pool in the backyard. The neighbor’s pond. The road with passing cars. Every terrifying possibility played out in my head. I had lost something so incredibly precious to me. One of the most important things in my life was gone. And I would do anything—anything—to bring her back. I longed to hug her, to hold her, to hear her little voice again.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, my sister-in-law—on her way to help search—found Harley sitting by the mailbox at the end of our long driveway. She had been patiently waiting for the mail, completely hidden from my view. The mailbox shielded her from sight, and the wind had carried away my desperate calls, making it impossible for her to hear me.

When I laid eyes on my daughter, I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her and cried like a baby. What was lost had been found. What was precious to me was back with me again.

Those who had come to help search rejoiced with me. They hugged her and celebrated with us.

I once read a quote that said, “The value you place on something determines the intensity with which you seek it.” (The Word for You Today). I valued my daughter so highly that I was willing to do whatever it took to find her and bring her back to me.

Did you know that God values you even more?

The Bible says that God would leave 99 other sheep just to search for one lost one. The King of Heaven chases after you and seeks you. He deeply desires your presence with Him and your sweet fellowship.

Luke 15:4–7 – What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Like I searched for my daughter with desperation and determination, God searches for you. He pursues you because you are precious to Him.

The Bible tells us of the prodigal son who demanded his father’s inheritance, only to squander it on sinful and selfish living and end up poor, lonely, broken, and hungry. But his father watched and waited (and probably prayed) for him to come home. When he finally saw his son in the distance, he RAN to him and hugged him, kissed him, and clothed him with his finest apparel and had a joyous celebration for him.

Luke 15:24 – For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.

His father didn’t give up. He never wrote his son off as lost and hopeless. He watched for him. He prayed for him. He hoped he would turn his life around, that he would surrender, that he would come home to him.

And God won’t give up on you. He won’t write you off as lost and hopeless. He is watching for you. He is praying for you. He longs for you to surrender—your burdens, your pride, your brokenness—and come home.

And when you do, He’ll be there, arms wide open.

And all of Heaven will rejoice. Maybe even throw a party.

Luke 15:10 – Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Don’t wait. Come on home.

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