“You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (CSB)

She bustled into the kitchen on that long-ago day with a wicker basket draped over her arm. “I’m going to pick some flowers in the woods,” she announced. “Wanna join me?”

It was an unlikely time of year for wildflowers to flourish, but I covered my doubts with a smile and followed my 7-year-old out the door.

As we meandered through the woods, we spotted moss and mushrooms, brambles and vines. But not a single flower.

Eventually, I assumed there were no blooms to be found, so I began picking up acorns instead. My daughter, however, was undeterred. She scanned the underbrush and peered around trees, peeked under logs and scoured through leaves. But her basket remained empty.

Then as I was nearing the trail’s end, I heard a happy squeal. I turned to see my little girl skipping through the gangly grass and dropping to her knees in a spray of purple wildflowers.

“How did I walk right past these?” I wondered aloud as we plucked those violet blooms.

She stared at the bulge of acorns in my pockets. “Mom, you didn’t see the flowers ’cause you weren’t expecting to find any.”

As my daughter’s words dangled between us, I was struck by their subtle truth. Expectations impact our vision.

Maybe that’s why, in Jeremiah 29:13, God tells us what we can expect when we go looking for Him: “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”

The Hebrew word used here for “search” doesn’t imply a casual glance or hurried hunt. Rather, it paints a picture of someone treading over a place again and again, like my flower hunter persistently searching for those silky blooms.

Interestingly, when God first spoke these words to His people, they weren’t gathered in church or lingering in a prayer meeting. They were living in exile beneath the rule of a pagan king.

And when they were far from home and achingly alone, God invited them to pursue His presence in that place where they least expected Him to be.

Two thousand years later, God issues the same invitation to you and me.

So let’s be God hunters today, dear friends!

Let’s look for His beauty in our mess and for His hope in our hurting.
Let’s seek His kindness in our missteps and His goodness in our grind.
Let’s search for His love where we least expect it and for His grace where we least deserve it.

And when we’re struggling to spot Him, let’s remain prayerful and persistent, hopeful and attentive. Because according to Jeremiah 29:13, when we seek the Lord with all of our hearts, we’re sure to find what we’re looking for.

Dear Jesus, I know You are with me. Give me eyes to see You and a heart to seek You. Make me more aware of Your presence today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

When you are reading your Bible and come across a specific verse that speaks to your heart, how can you know you’re applying the true meaning of that verse correctly? Dr. Joel Muddamalle is here to help in this short teaching video, “How Important Is Context When We’re Reading the Bible?” After watching, we will all read our Bibles with more intentionality and accuracy. Click here to get started!

ENGAGE

If you’re looking for a resource to help you encounter Jesus on the pages of His Word, Alicia’s created a digital devotional just for you. You can get a copy here! Or head to Alicia’s blog for some fun tips on hunting for God today.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Proverbs 8:17, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me” (NIV).

What’s one area of your life where you’ve stopped expecting to spot God? How can you seek Him more intentionally today?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2024 by Alicia Bruxvoort. All rights reserved.