Faith: God’s Loving Pursuit

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” - Psalm 23 v 6

Dare we envision a God who follows us? Who pursues us? Who chases us? Who tracks us down and wins us over?  Who follows us with ‘goodness and mercy’ all the days of our lives?

Isn’t this the kind of God described in the Bible? A God who follows us?  Moses can tell you about it.  He was forty years in the desert when he looked over his shoulder and saw a bush blazing.  God had followed him into the wilderness. 

Jonah can tell you about it.  He was a fugitive on a boat when he looked over his shoulder and saw clouds brewing.  God had followed him onto the ocean.

The disciples of Jesus knew the feeling of being followed by God.  They were rain soaked and shivering when they looked over their shoulders and saw Jesus walking toward them.  God had followed them into the storm.

John the Apostle was banished on Patmos when he looked over his shoulder and saw the skies begin to open.  God had followed him into exile.

Lazarus was three days dead in a sealed tomb when he heard a voice, lifted his head and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus standing.  God had followed him into the death.

Peter had denied his Lord and gone back to fishing when he heard his name and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus cooking breakfast.  God had followed him in spite of his failures.

God is the God who follows, I wonder – have you sensed him following you? We often miss him.

Through the kindness of a stranger.  The majesty of a sunset.  The mystery of romance.  Through the question of a child or the commitment of a spouse.  Through a word well-spoken or a touch well time, have you sensed his presence?

His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.

While reading this excerpt from ‘Travelling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never intended to Bear” by Max Lucado it made me realise that:

• God is with us always
• God never leaves us
• God is with us in the storm
• God is with us in our loneliness
• God is with us in spite of our failures
• God carries us