Little E grabs her daddy’s hand and pulls, “Chase me Daddy,” she says, white pigtails flying, dimples pressing in. She turns and runs like a mini-marathoner, glancing over her shoulder to make sure Daddy’s close behind. He chases her, grabs her, and swings her high as she cries, “Down, Daddy! Down!” Just as her feet brush the pavement, off she flies, her tinkling laughter flying back on a breath of wind.

My daughter loves being pursued by her daddy because she delights in his love. Her daddy’s pursuit calls her to know and be known—it calls her to Love.

We humans delight in being pursued because we were designed to delight in God, the Pursuer of our souls, to be fully known, fully loved by Him. Yet our human hearts, full of fear and Self, often curve in on themselves. Then, blind to our Father’s love, we tell ourselves lies: “He doesn’t care! He’s not really there!”

Then we run. We hide. We cover our weakness and shame with the pretty clothes of success, knowledge, morality, and money.

Yet God calls to us in the darkness, “Where are you?”

Where are you?

The call to come out of hiding and into the Light. The call to live broken, dependent, and free before the God who knows our hearts and pursues us still. But without Jesus opening our eyes, ripping off the scales, washing off the dirt of suffering and sin, we cannot see Him.

So, we must pray for new eyes, eyes that see the Beauty of Jesus pursuing us through the joy and pain of Life.

To encourage you along that journey I’ve included Redemption Stories from real people–friends, counselees/clients, family, myself, and even random strangers from the community–about their growth in seeing and savoring Jesus in the midst of a wide variety of struggles–abuse, trauma, loss, adoption, identity, parenting, and much more.

These stories are intended to encourage, inspire, and provoke you to seeing more of Jesus in your own life and in the lives of those around you.

Becca B.