We recently inherited a beautiful new member to our family. Maggie, an eight-year-old silver lab, also expecting puppies! We (the kids and myself) were overjoyed for this wonderful addition. My husband, however, knew there would be plenty of added work, but bless his heart, he gave us his blessing.

The very first night, she wandered off. I blame myself, as she was doing so great all day, staying by my side, but I went inside for 10 minutes then she was gone!

I had a gut wrenching stab when I called for her with no response. Over an hour passed and still nothing. Failure. Inadequate. Worthless.
That is all I heard.

My husband and son returned from late night fishing and I couldn’t even muster up the confidence to tell him what I had done! It wasn’t until he asked how she was doing that I lost it. I blurted out in defeat that she was gone.

I went straight to my room and began crying. Now before you think I am being over dramatic, I should add the entire week had been overwhelming and heavy, this was just the cherry on top!

Both my son and husband crawled into bed, arms wrapped around me, no words, just love. Then my husband prayed. His gentle words stilled my heart, but only created more tears.

After a restless night of dreams that she had returned, I woke up sadly disappointed to the reality. She was still gone.

My middle daughter woke me up with a heartfelt, “Why didn’t you lock Maggie up, Mom?” Again, the reminder of my shortcomings was at the forefront of my mind. I forced myself into our normal Sunday morning routine. Battling the urge to stay home and crawl back in bed. (Again, the events of the week built up my devastating response.)

I spread the word of our missing dog, all the while embarrassed of losing her only hours after receiving her. With a heavy heart, we headed to church.

Our pastor’s sermon was without a doubt a hug from the Lord. He titled it, ‘On Who are You Waiting?’ I was so overcome by the lies telling me that I was inadequate, that I forgot to rest in the loving arms of my Heavenly Father. Psalm 62:1-2 says,

“Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from Him.
Truly He is my rock and my salvation. he is my fortress.
I will never be shaken.”

Then in verse 11, “Power belongs to the Lord.”

I was distraught and caught up in MYSELF and what I didn’t do right that I was forgetting and dismissing The One who always does right! My dependency was not on the Lord, but in my own strength.

Pastor Russ said,

“Waiting is not just sitting around. It takes a lot of strength. Strength found only in the Lord.”

We got a call that afternoon, Maggie had been spotted! By the time we got up to where she was seen, she was gone. Yet, we continued to look! We didn’t just sit back and pray she came back. Exhausted in the heat, my sweet family of 5 headed back to our home, Maggie-less.

Before bed, we prayed for the safety of Maggie. That God would keep her and those babies in her tummy to be safe. Healthy. And be returned home soon!

As I tucked my kids in bed, the story of the wandering sheep came to mind. It was at that moment, I realized, I had absolutely no control in the matter. Only the Lord, the true Shepherd could seek out the one lost dog.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 18:10-15

Mornings have been challenging, but I begged my husband to tough-love me out of bed the next day! And again, bless his wonderful heart, he did! I unwilling rolled out of bed, grabbed my bible and journal and began my day.

With my overflowing heart filled by the Spirit, I moved to accept the Lord’s mercies that are new every morning! (Lamentations 3:22-23) Satan’s hold had been released by the simple obedience of humbling myself and trusting God while I waited.

No later had my husband called, he found Maggie!

He had a hunch he should go check where we searched the day before, with little expectations he looked anyway. And found her! She was very hesitant around him, being so new to our family, he called me and said to hurry!

I loaded the overjoyed kids and we sang ‘Thank You Jesus’ over and over in the truck! When we showed up, just the sight of her made my heart skip a beat!

She wasn’t sold on me right away either. But I gently talked to her. Sat down, giving her the opportunity to come to me. Within a minute she came to me! I began hugging her as she licked my face repeatedly! The kids joined in the celebratory return. The wandering Maggie had been found.

I mouthed the words ‘Thank You’ to my husband as he smiled as we rejoiced!

He didn’t want Maggie. Not that he didn’t like her, but he knew it would be added challenges. Some that my fall on his already busy schedule. And boy howdy was he right! Yet, his love for us, and seeing us mourn the loss of our new found love, Maggie, pushed him to keep searching. I am so thankful for that man! And not just because he found our dog, but because he is faithful to the Lord! And he patiently waits on the Lord. He is living out his faithfulness as a witness to our kids and to myself!
Thank you, my love!

Why did I ramble on to tell you this story? Because God uses ALL things for His glory! Maggie reminded me much of myself for many years. Aimlessly wandering around in this life, searching for home.

The many times we called out her name, calling her home, she didn’t come. I heard my name, many times being called my the Lord, but tried instead to use my own strength to find my way back home.

Friends – God is not going anywhere! We are the ones moving! Whether that is closer or father away from Him!

And we must be careful because sin has a nasty way of taking over. Very subtly at first, then building over time to where we are enveloped and consumed by its hold on us. But even as a wandering sheep, we still have a Shepherd, who will leave his flock of 99 sheep to save the ONE that has gone astray.

If God cares for a wandering dog, think about how much He cares for YOU! Don’t believe the lies the Enemy is filling your head with, but instead turn to the pioneer and perfecter of faith, Jesus Christ. May we as brothers and sisters in Christ REJOICE together when that ONE sheep (or dog) that once was lost but now is found!

“And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:5-7

*CHALLENGE: Maybe you are the wandering sheep right now. Maybe you’ve been lost for years and can’t seem to find your way back home. I encourage you, STOP. Silently, patiently WAIT on the Lord. And LISTEN as He is calling you BY NAME to come back home.

Today, STOP. WAIT. And LISTEN. God is speaking to you! When you hear Him, REJOICE! And tell others of what He has done for you!

Lord, thank You for the overwhelming love that consumes us more than the sin we allow to fester deep inside. May we stop and patiently wait on You, Lord. Help us to find our way back home into Your loving arms! Thank You for sending the perfect Shepherd to seek us out when we wander away. Help us to rejoice forever more in Your perfect glory! Forever and ever. Amen.

READ also the Parables of the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. Be encouraged today by God’s goodness!