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She was described by those leading the search as “Asian, about 160 cm, in dark clothing and speaks English well.”
The woman had been reported missing from an Icelandic tour bus after her fellow travelers claimed that she had gotten off the bus but never returned.
It turned out that she had, in fact, returned, but wasn’t recognized by the other passengers. The search was called off when the woman finally realized that the description matched her. It turned out that she was one of the nearly 50 people who had been searching for her (CBS News August 30, 2012; Yahoo News August 29, 2012). She had found herself.
Sometimes we find ourselves, as well:
We may find ourselves lost, alone and afraid. The Bible teaches us that God will find us and strengthen us (Ezekiel 34:16), that we need not be afraid (John 14:27; Psalm 34:4), and that we don’t have to be alone (Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 1:23).
We may find ourselves to be lacking. However, we read in James 1:2-4 that when our faith is tested and we learn endurance, we will be lacking in nothing.
We may find ourselves in over our heads. That’s when we need to remember that God cares about us enough to allow us to cast our anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7).
We may find ourselves on the wrong side of God’s law (1 John 3:4). But the Holy Spirit teaches us that because of Jesus, our sins and lawless deeds will be remembered no more (Hebrews 10:17).
Luke 19:10 simply, yet profoundly, states that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Rather than find ourselves, we need to let Jesus find us.
Troy Albers
Rosenberg, TX