Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 

Recently, I was involved in a hit and run car accident. That particular day was filled with personal appointments and errands. Evening had come and I was headed home. Traffic was heavy due to sporting events in the area. In order to bypass traffic, I decided to take surface streets. As I was waiting at a red light, an individual ran into the back of my car. The hit was so hard that my bumper completely detached from my vehicle. I was in shock. Everything happened so fast. I got out of my car expecting the other driver to do the same. Instead, he was trying to flee the scene. Long story short, he did. I tried to follow him, but it was to dangerous. I didn’t want innocent bystanders to get hurt or cause further injuries to myself. But PRAISE GOD, there was a witness who saw everything. The witness chased the other driver and was able to obtain his license plate number. I was very grateful for the civilian who came alongside and helped me in my time of need. The person was heaven sent and was in the right place at the right time.

Needless to say, I was grateful to God that I wasn’t seriously injured and that I didn’t hit the car in front of me. On the other hand, I wasn’t to happy about the damages to my vehicle. My family and my friends gave me a different perspective: a car is replaceable, but my life is much more important. Thank God for the blessing and prayers of loved ones and friends.

As I got home that night, a surge of emotions flooded my mind. I was grateful that I wasn’t hurt, yet angry at the other driver for leaving the scene and bothered by the damages to my vehicle. Not understanding why this happened, I just fell to my knees and began worshipping and praising the Lord. I cried out to Him and asked Him to impart His wisdom to me for this situation – “Was there a lesson He was teaching me in the midst of this?”, “What does He want me to learn from this situation?” In that moment, the Holy Spirit began prompting me to pray for the other driver’s salvation and for forgiveness. After praying, God’s peace rested upon me and my frustration began to subside. My mind, my thoughts, and my body was in a relaxed state. The Lord began affirming to me how much He loves me and He has a purpose for my storm. He saw the situation before it happened, and He is Sovereign and in control of all things. Nothing escapes His eye.

Job 42:2 I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

What I’m also learning from this situation is that God wants me to relentlessly and faithfully pursue Him at all times. Just as I was trying to pursue the other driver, God wants me to have the same mind set towards Him. I should remain in constant pursuit of Him: chasing after Him with all of my heart while keeping Him first above everyone and everything else in my life.

Psalm 63:1-5 O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. 

Ladies, I encourage you to relentlessly pursue the Lord, our Savior. Pursue Him in the good times as well as the bad. Keep your heart chasing after Him. He loves you with an everlasting love and His plans for you are for good and not for evil. Sometimes life doesn’t make sense, but we are not called to understand; however, to trust and believe in the Lord regardless of our circumstances. Storms are not fun, but the Lord has a purpose for each one. Trust Him; cling tightly to Him; lean on and depend solely on Him; and allow the Lord to lead, guide, and direct you in the way you should go. Jesus loves you – He is Faithful and He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Hebrews 13:5b For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.