I lost it in Oklahoma and found it in Missouri

About four years ago, when I was taking off my earrings, one dropped out of my hands. I knelt down to find it, but it wasn't anywhere on the floor. Over the next few weeks, I checked the closet floor in hopes that I would find it. It was my favorite pair of stud earrings and I just couldn't stand the thought that I lost one in my own closet. It had to be somewhere.

Summer passed by and I didn't find it. Fall came and it was time for me make my move to Missouri. As I moved everything out of my closet, I looked around. When I vacuumed the closet one last time, I looked in every possible place...but never found it.

So, I moved to Missouri with only one earring. I kept it in hopes that I would still find the lost one. Sounds funny now, but I just couldn't give up. I moved all of my clothes into my new closet but no sign of my earring. To be honest, I wasn’t really thinking about it so when I stepped on something hard and it hurt my foot, I had no idea it would be my lost earring.

There it was. Sitting on the carpet. I lost it in Oklahoma and found it in Missouri. Seriously?! I rejoiced. I jumped up and down. I thanked God for sending me a little love note. He knew how much I liked those earrings. But, it wasn't just about something I liked. God taught me about hope and how something that appears lost may only be hidden for a season.

I've had my share of pain and heartache. There were times in my life that I thought I had lost the fun-loving girl I used to be. There were times in my life that I questioned what was happening to my life as it unfolded nothing like I thought it would. There were times in my life that I thought I had lost my dreams and didn't see how God would use me.

During those times of things "lost," God was still there. Though I felt I had lost parts of myself, what was dear to me, what I had envisioned for me life, God was still working in the unseen. He had it all in His capable hands. While I never gave up hope that He would sustain me and use my brokenness for His glory, I could not see the big picture of where my lost met His found.

With God, nothing is lost. He sees all, knows all and He cares about all. My tears weren't lost. My pain wasn't lost. My fears weren't lost. He was there in the darkest and most difficult times. The fun-loving girl He created me to be wasn't lost. The life I had envisioned wasn’t lost. The dreams He placed inside of me weren't lost. He was there, molding me into the person He could use.

Today, I stand on the other side of those times and I see how God took care of me. I see where His hand provided for me, guided my way and healed me. I also see where He has helped me find what I once thought was lost. Joy and laughter have returned. My life is so much richer than I had ever thought possible. My dreams are still coming to pass and He's giving me new ones.

Be encouraged. What may seem lost is still there - it may be hidden for a season and it may look a little different when you find it. When I found my earring, it sure shined brighter than it ever did before.