The Joy of Being Found

“The Joy of Being Found”–

“You can love us more in a moment, than none of us could in a lifetime.” That thought still stirs something deep in me. God is not hiding from us—He longs to be found. And He loves when we come looking.

I remember a sweet moment from years ago. Wayne and I had traveled to Connecticut to visit family, and my nephew Justin- just 8 years old at the time- was obsessed with playing hide-and-seek. The second he would finish his dinner, he would run to me with those big brown sparkling eyes and say, “Titi, Let’s play!”

He would turn to the wall, cover his eyes, and count to ten while I scrambled off trying to squeeze myself behind a door or under a blanket somewhere (let’s just say… Titi Margie is not a small target!). At the count of ten, he would laugh in delight and begin his quest to find me.

His anticipation would build as he would open every closet door and look under every bed.

The searching part was always fun.

But the finding— that’s where the joy really exploded! The moment he spotted me, I would shout dramatically, “Oh my gosh! You found me!” And he would burst into laughter and shout “I found you!” and he would demand “Again! Again!” Over and over again… until I couldn’t do it anymore!

That memory is even more special now. Justin’s in college. He’s grown. And yet, the joy of that day still clings to my heart.

The fun of the game wasn’t in hiding so well that Justin would never find me. That would’ve totally missed the point! The best part, the exciting part— was being found!

And I think it’s the same with God.

When He invites us to seek Him, it’s not because He wants to stay hidden. Not at all… He wants to be found. Every time.

God doesn’t play hide-and-seek to stay hidden.

He’s not avoiding us.

He’s waiting with joy, ready to be discovered.

The wonder is in the finding. And the invitation is always open.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:7–8:

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.”

And in Jeremiah 29:13, God makes us this beautiful promise:

“You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

What an invitation! But also—what a challenge.

Because the truth is… seeking is not the same as casually glancing around.

What Does It Really Mean to “Seek” God?

To seek means to pursue with purpose. It means we intentionally carve out space in our thoughts, time, and lives to draw near to the heart of God. It requires humility, commitment, and sometimes even sacrifice.

When we’re in love, we want to know everything about the other person, right? That’s the kind of longing God desires from us. A deep, burning hunger to know Him. To spend time with Him. To hear His voice and be changed by His presence.

And as we seek Him, we’re transformed.

We begin to:

• Lay down distractions.

• Let go of the worldly to embrace the heavenly.

• Desire the things He desires.

Seeking leads us to discover things about Him—but also about ourselves. It’s in the seeking that God begins to whisper those “great and mighty things we do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

Seeking Is a Process, Not a One-Time Prayer

It’s not about having the perfect words or even the perfect posture. It’s about a heart that keeps showing up.

There have been times in my own life when the answers didn’t come right away… when life was too loud, and my soul too weary. But even then—especially then—God reminded me: Keep seeking. I’m here. I want to be found.

And let’s be real—it’s not always glamorous. Seeking can be messy. Emotional. Awkward. Tiring. But if my little nephew could turn a simple game into such joy, how much more joy awaits us in the beautiful pursuit of our Heavenly Father?

A Final Word of Encouragement

If you’ve been praying but feeling distant from God… if you’ve been searching but still have questions… don’t give up. Seek Him. Keep seeking.

Make room.

Worship with intention.

Pray with expectation.

Be still.

Be curious.

Be hungry.

Because when we seek Him with all our heart—He will be found.

Just like Justin squealed with joy when he found his Titi, heaven rejoices when we come near to God.

Food for thought:

• What is one way I can seek God more intentionally this week?

• What distractions might I need to lay aside in order to pursue Him with all my heart?

• Can I take a moment to pause, center myself in His presence, smile, and whisper, “I see You, Lord.”?

  
  

Prayer:

Father, thank You that You are never far away. You don’t make it difficult for us to find You—You’re always waiting with open arms. Help us pursue You with childlike wonder and wholehearted love. Teach us what it means to seek You—not out of duty, but out of delight. We want to know You more. Show us those great and mighty things we’ve yet to see.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Devotional Reflection by Margie Puckett 2025