Brought Back--again

I feel like I'm usually walking a line between over sharing and shining light.  But, because of the numerous calls and emails that I get about this very issue from moms who are going through the same thing, I'm going to lay some of our recent struggle and VICTORY out on the line. Above all-- because God tells me to do it because--

He is the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  
2 Corinthians 1: 4

We all know that the redemption of our children is a long, winding road.  They know it, too.  Our lives move at the speed of light and the healing process often gets left in the dust as we move from one event, one project, one sports season to another.  Any time we have a change in routine, it seems like the wounds begin to fester.  This time it was a snow day.  Last time it was fall break.

I'd like to pretend that I've got it all under control, but when you're following your sock-footed child in your 12 passenger white kidnapper van, down the wrong side of a narrow road--(that'll preach)-- it's a little obvious to the neighborhood that something has gone awry.

And most recently, when the police cars, the K-9 unit and the EMT's showed up at bedtime and searched high and low in the 12 degree night air, all my precious neighbors knew to begin praying.  And they did.  ---And so did a battalion of saints who are ready to intercede at a moment's notice.  I'm beyond blessed to have friends and prayer warriors who are always just a phone call away!

This time was especially unnerving because I did have to call the police to help us search in the potentially deadly cold.  They could not have been more kind and caring.  As I was praying, I had a vision of Hagar in the wilderness and the Angel of the Lord coming to her and Hagar saying, "You are the God who sees me."  Genesis 16:13.  My dear friend, Missy who was here with me, said that was her devotion that morning.  Not surprising-- God is always before me!

And it was our friend, Mark, Missy's husband, who turned out to be the Angel of the Lord who saw our lost lamb.  He brought our child back, unharmed and wrapped in his own coat.

I was at a complete loss as to how to connect with this child who would not even look at me.  I had written a letter of straight up scripture, arranged in a way that told how this child is loved by me and God after the last runaway, but had never delivered it, because the timing had never been right.  The timing was finally right.  I delivered it and prayed that God's Word would not return void.  

Here is the letter--

For you were chosen in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined you to be adopted as His son through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One He loves.  

I will go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.  

I will not leave you as an orphan, I will come to you.  

I have loved you with an everlasting love.  I have drawn you with loving kindness. 

I loved you enough to sacrifice and lay down my life across the nations before you even knew me. 

Like the rest, you were by nature, objects of wrath, but because of My great love for you, and My mercy you have been saved.  

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.  You said- I will flee swiftly!  And I said, I will pursue you swiftly! 

All day long, I have held out my hands to an obstinate child who walks in ways, not good, pursuing his own imagination, continually provoking me to my very face. 

 Yet, I long to be gracious to you; I rise to show you compassion.  I am full of justice-- blessed are all who wait for Me.  

God has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

He will bestow on you a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  You will be called an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.  

So come and drink from the fountain that never runs dry, come and take on my yoke, for my burden is light and my yoke is easy.  Come and receive the free gift of LIFE that cost me everything.  --and is worth far more than I could ever tell you.  I am making everything new.

Lift up your eyes, keep oil in your lamp, for I am with you always. 

I have assigned your portion and your cup; I have made your lot secure.  Your boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places---

AND SURELY YOU HAVE A DELIGHTFUL INHERITANCE!

Then-- I waited.  God did not disappoint me.  When this child came home from school the next day, I received a beautiful, heart wrenching letter in return, written in perfect handwriting and decorated with LOVE, full of repentance-- thankfulness and transparency in all that is going on in the dark places of my child's heart-- 

and assurance that this child does know how deeply loved and cherished he is.

It is all SO VERY worth it!

Do not give up!

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19