Seems we humans are all on a search for something from the moment we breath. Initially, we just need the basics…milk, warmth, comfort in the arms of caregivers. It continues to other things that bring pleasure, be it a toy, something that holds the attention and brings joy…to learning a skill in something to excel at. As maturity into the teen and young adult years it begins the search for significance and onto a career path and a mate. These can all be a healthy part of thriving and bring happiness and satisfaction to one’s life.

But even in achieving all the things in life that we desire, there will always be a deeper human need to be connected to the Creator, whether you know it or not! Sure you were conceived by your parents, one male and one female coming together to make you, a uniquely created person like no one else on the planet. But, who made them and those who came before them? Hopefully you had a set of loving parents who nurtured and adored you, which sets a good healthy start for life in a very broken world. Unfortunately, many people don’t always have a healthy set of parents because people are naturally selfish and don’t have the capacity to be a good nurturer of children. Parents have scars from their experiences, some good, some bad and some downright ugly.

Before I came to know the Creator, I looked for people to satisfy the emptiness within my soul, particularly in someone to love me. Coming from a very broken and dysfunctional home and not being emotionally healthy myself, it didn’t go so well. At a low point in my young life I blindly asked God if He cared about me because life had really let me down, people had let me down. I had tried my best to be self sufficient and failed. Funny how we don’t really look up till we’re at the bottom of the barrel.

“Just keep swimming” as Marlin said to Dory in the children’s movie, “Finding Nemo”. Marlin was the father clown fish who was searching the great big ocean for his lost little clownfish son, Nemo. He somehow in his search was connected with an absent minded pacific blue tang fish named Dory. It seems at times we mindlessly just keep swimming through life…surviving. Marlin desperately, sometimes recklessly searched for his lost son. Nemo started out just exploring, then he became lost, really lost. Finally found by His loving father, the chaos was quieted in Nemo’s search.

Psalm 14:2 “The Lord looks down from Heaven on the entire human race, He looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.” Psalm 119:2 “Search for the Lord and for His strength, continually seek Him!” Jeremiah 29:13 “If you search for me with your whole heart, you will find me.” Lamentations 3:25 “The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him.”

Jesus told a story in Luke chapter 15:11-31 about a prodigal son who left his father’s house in search of something to fulfill his empty voids, the guy ended up lost with no money and got a job feeding the pigs. He was hungry and began eating with the pigs. I’d say he hit the bottom of the barrel or maybe even under the barrel. He came to his senses and went home to his father and his father ran to welcome him home! That’s exactly what our Father God, Creator and Lifegiver did for us…He searches for us…because He loves us. He gave His only son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we can come to Him…forgiven and set free from the debt we could never pay.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him, will not perish but have everlasting life.”

Dear friend, are you mindlessly swimming, searching for peace, something to bring some momentary satisfaction? Stop your striving and come to the Father who loves you and waits for you to come into the light of His mercy where there is rest for your weary soul.

Grace and Peace to you,

Sharon Kay