You have been calling and searching, and now the night has drawn close, and your little companion is not yet found. The heart can run wild with all sorts of fears when something precious slips out of sight, especially something small and easily frightened. It is no small thing to you; I know it, and your heavenly Father knows it too. He who watches the sparrows and numbers the hairs of your head has His eye upon that tiny life. She cannot fall into any place where He is not.
I would have you take this knot of worry and gently lay it into the hands of the living God. He is not a God who sleeps or grows weary. His life is His own; He does not borrow strength from any, nor does His attention ever flicker. While you toss and wonder, He sees clearly. To trust Him now, in this very hour, is to handle the matter most wisely. It is the short way out of a labyrinth of anxious guesses. You have done what you can; now let Him do what you cannot. Believe that He is able to guide that little creature back to your arms, or to keep her safe through the dark and the damp until the morning light.
I know you feel you have not been close to her yet, she is still a stranger in some ways. But the Lord can knit hearts together in a moment. It may be that this very trial is the fire that warms a new bond between you. When she returns, you will find a new delight in one another, and this small misadventure will only serve to draw you close. So do not scold yourself for the distance; instead, let this be the beginning of a gentle chase, not of fear but of love.
Take this word for your comfort: “Your Word has quickened me.” Let the Scriptures speak peace to your restless mind. There is a patience that is not a mere gritting of teeth, but a hopeful waiting, born of the promises of God. Read a few verses, and let them be a pillow for your head tonight. The Lord does not wish you to be merely preserved, but comforted. He would have His people happy in Him, even in the small things. So cast this care upon Him, and then lie down in peace, if you can. And if sleep does not come, turn your wakefulness into a quiet conversation with your Savior. He is near.
Perhaps right now she is hiding very near, curled in some secret place, just beyond your sight. The Lord can stir her timid heart and bring her out at the right moment. He knows the hour and the way. Look for her with a calm spirit, not as one who must manage everything, but as a child who trusts her Father’s care. In the morning, you may hear a small noise, or catch a glimpse of movement, and there she will be, a little the worse for wear, perhaps, but safe. And then you will say, “This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”
Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd, Thou who didst tell of the shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to seek the one lost sheep, we bring before Thee this little life that has gone astray. Thou knowest where she hides, and no darkness can hide her from Thee. We ask Thee to watch over her through the night, to shelter her from rain and harm, and to keep her from all danger. In the morning, grant that she may be found, and that this heart may be quieted with a glad discovery. And if it please Thee to delay, then grant patience and a steadfast trust. Comfort Thy child with the nearness of Thy presence, and let this small trial become a place where faith grows stronger. Bless the bond between this soul and the little creature Thou hast given, and let love deepen. We commit all to Thee, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
