A few years ago, I was at work in Houston when a bad thunderstorm came through and created a flash flood. I was sitting at my desk when my cell phone rang with my boss’ caller ID on it. When I answered, I heard her crying. When I asked what was wrong, she said she was trapped in the street in front of the office. The high waters had come over her hood and shut down her car. She needed help getting into the parking lot.
I took out my wallet and cell phone, then waded through water above my knees out into the street. As I was pushing her car, a couple of strangers hopped out of theirs to help me. I kept slipping in my dress shoes as we pushed her car through the water. Once we got her car into a spot, I grabbed an umbrella to walk her inside. As I closed the umbrella, I realized my wedding ring was gone. I looked at a friend and told him I had to go find it.
He stood over me with an umbrella to prevent the rain from disrupting the water as I searched. We retraced my steps over and over. I got on all fours and dragged my hands across the ground. We searched for over half an hour and couldn’t find it. Since it was thundering and lightening, he convinced me to go back inside until it cleared up. I was soaked to the bone and upset. I called my wife to tell her about what happened.
After about an hour, the rain died down and the waters went down too. I went back out looking for it. I dug through a drain in the parking lot with no luck. I searched and searched for another 45 minutes. As I stood on the curb, I put my head down and told my friend, “I give up.” That’s when something gold and round caught my eye between my feet. I reached down through the water and pulled up my ring! I was so excited that God had answered my prayer and my search wasn’t in vain.
We can probably all quote Jeremiah 29:11, but the verses that come after are just as powerful. Verse 13 says, “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed” (MSG). God’s plans to prosper us begin with us seeking Him the way I sought that ring. We must get on our hands and knees and search for Him more than anything else. When we do, we won’t be disappointed because we will find Him and receive the future we hope for.
Devotions by Chris Hendrix 