Finding yourself was the trendy thing to do in the seventies. I heard often from family, friends, and the media, “I am finding myself…” or “You need to find yourself…” My friends didn’t like it much when I looked down at my toes and said “Where did I go?”

Finding yourself is in the Holy Bible. In Luke 15:11-32 the lost son finds himself in verses 16-18. First, he left his father’s house with his inheritance and becomes mired in sin. He ends up not only starving for food; he also starves for the companion stolen by his selfishness:

¹⁶ and he was desirous to fill his belly from the husks that the swine were eating, and no one was giving to him. ¹⁷ And having come to himself, he said, How many hirelings of my father have a superabundance of bread, and I here with hunger am perishing! ¹⁸ having risen, I will go on unto my father, and will say to him, Father, I did sin — to the heaven, and before thee, [Young’s Literal Translation]

The scripture says “having come to himself.” In the seventies the trend was to go out into the world and make a way for yourself. They defended their freewheeling lifestyle with the trendy term: “I’m finding myself!” Come to himself, finding myself it really is the same thing. Since the beginning of time, humans have gone off to discover the world. These journeys teach us about ourselves. If we are honest with ourselves, we come to ourselves. When that happens, it opens our minds to the life beyond our mortal existence. This is where we find God waiting for us to get to know Him on a personal level.

There isn’t another god that can have a personal relationship with us. He is the one that fills the empty space in our soul. It is a space created within us just for Him. Only the Creator can fill it with His presence, His Holy Spirit.

Please understand, this is not theological or scientific. I don’t care what the theologians or scientists have to say about it. This is what I know. It is my experience. I need that personal relationship with my Lord. To me, it doesn’t matter if I stay home or travel abroad on my journey; I find Him in my relationship with Him. My soul is not complete without His Holy Spirit in me.

Maybe you have a different experience. That is wonderful. You are a different person, and God comes to us where we are. Do you see in Luke chapter fifteen verse seventeen where God meets the Lost Son? It is when the Lost Son came to himself. He was tired and hungry. His journey had led him face to face with starvation. God steps into the pigsty. Remember your father’s house…

Physically, spiritually, we all have to come to ourselves in our journey. Those journeys are as unique as you are. It does not matter how the world tries to classify us in our little boxes. The Creator knows us and every little quirk that makes us special in His eyes. These moments of “finding ourselves” are part of the ongoing relationship with Him. It isn’t a onetime adventure that defines us.

We learn, we change, and find new talents we did not know existed. Sometimes the change is like walking through a doorway. My retirement is like that. One day I’m a career gal. And the next day I step into a new world full of discovery. I have to say I am stumbling a bit on this new pebbled path. I again need to “come to myself” just like the lost son.

No, I haven’t walked away from God this time. This walk is different, it is more like when Jacob left the employ of Laban in Genesis chapter 31. Jacob talked to God about leaving. Then he talked to his wives. They agreed. When God gave him the go ahead and Jacob fled.

I prayed and God showed me it was time to leave. I talked to my husband. He agreed. I made the arrangements, and I walked free. The Lord was with me every step of the way. Still, I feel a little lost. I need to restructure my routines and prioritize my work. In the last few days, inflammation has forced me to rest. The fear that I may not be able to work seeps in again.

Writing this I find I must again come to myself just like the lost son. There really isn’t anything new under the sun, is there? So when I came to myself, where was God? Right here in my upside-down life with a cluttered house, a business idea, and books to edit. God meets me right where I am. He is here in my soul. Remember that room he placed for Himself there in our souls. That is where I found Him. I asked Him, “Where do I start?”

“Write your blog post for the week. Find Yourself,” resounded in my soul.

My prayer for us today is from Proverbs 3:5-6:

Thank you, Father, for your blessings on us. We see strange things in some of our churches, public servants, and in our world. Lord, it is easy for us to get distracted. Today we turn our focus to You and trust in You with all your hearts. Help us as we learn to not lean on what we see or on our understanding. Strengthen our faith as we switch our focus on You alone. We glorify you in all we do, as we continue in your way, for it is you who makes our paths straight. We thank you for your guidance in these times. In Jesus’ name amen. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have some fun today ‘finding yourself’ keep a lookout for the LORD as He lifts up His face to meet with you, And give you peace. (see Numbers 6:24-26*)

Milly

* ²⁴ The Lord bless you, and keep you; ²⁵ The Lord cause His face to shine on you, And be gracious to you; ²⁶ The Lord lift up His face to you, And give you peace. [New American Standard Bible]