It’s a crucial point in nearly every romantic comedy. Our heroine is distraught. Something, or someone, has hurt her. In her pain, she recoils. She insists she wants to be left alone. She insists she is fine. She insists that she just needs some space.
And we all know she’s lying.
As women, we know that, deep down, what she really desires is for someone to run after her. She wants someone to offer her a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, an empathetic heart. Not because she is helpless, but because someone finds her worthy of help.
Whoever does this, then, is the hero. Whether it’s the handsome stranger, the lifelong friend-turned-love, or her best girlfriends, whomever comes after her is the one who saves the day. This person is the hero because they prove that they know her. They are able to read between the smile-lines and see the breaking heart. They know that what our heroine really needs is not to be left alone, but to be carried home.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. Often, we quickly tune out of this Gospel because it’s so familiar. “I know how this ends,” we think, “Jesus leaves the 99 good ones to go after the sinner and He never gives up on us, yada yada…”
But what if we pause today and really listen? Yes, the Gospel absolutely affirms the fact that Jesus will search for us when we become lost in our sin. Praise Him for that.
Jesus also comes after us when, in our sadness, we choose to walk away. “I’m fine, Lord,” we insist. “I don’t want to bring the others down. Please just leave me alone,” we say.
And Jesus knows we’re lying.
In our relationship with Christ, we don’t have to worry about Him hurting us and we don’t have to wonder if He will come after us. Because He will. Because, as He reiterates in the Gospel, He knows us. (John 10:14) He always saves the day, sisters. He always carries us home.
He always saves the day, sisters. He always carries us home. // @to_the_heightsClick to tweet
What is hurting you today? What are you pretending you can handle on your own, with just a little space? Will you bring that to your Good Shepherd today? Will you allow Him to run after you, to carry you home?
Olivia Spears lives in Kentucky where sweet tea and bourbon flow like milk and honey. She is the Blog Manager for Blessed is She and works from home as an editor and social media manager. She likes to binge novels and Netflix while raising her children and laughing with her husband. You can find out more about her here.
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