“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” — Luke 15:4
Sometimes God will interrupt our plans to reveal His. What began as a simple Sunday day trip and hike through the Ipswich woods turned into a divine encounter. Lost in the forest with no clear way back, I found myself face-to-face with a man who was even more lost—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. What happened next was nothing short of God leaving the ninety-nine to pursue the one.
When God decides to pursue someone, He will leave the ninety-nine for the one who is lost.
Last Sunday, I decided to take a day trip to Newburyport. On my way there, I noticed a state park by the Ipswich River. A thought came to mind—why not stop for a hike before continuing the drive?
After about 45 minutes of hiking through the beautiful forest, breathing in the fresh, crisp air, I realized I had lost my way. At one point, I came to an intersection of trails and had no idea whether to go left, right, or straight ahead.
Suddenly, I was completely lost in the middle of the forest with no clear direction back to the parking lot. My phone reception was weak, my battery was already down to 30%, and panic began to rise.
I prayed and said, “Jesus, don’t leave me like this. Are You done with me? Will I survive here in the middle of nowhere?”
Then I decided to walk back the same way I had come. As I made my way toward the road, I saw a man—an older man with two hiking canes, his back bent, slowly making his way along the trail. He was hiking all alone in the middle of this vast forest.
I approached him and asked if he could help me find my way back to the entrance of the park, where I had left my car. He was very kind and said, “Follow me, I’m heading that way.”
As we began to walk together, I noticed a cross around his neck. I couldn’t help but ask if he was a believer.
He told me that he was, but then quietly admitted that he felt abandoned by God. He shared that he had grown up Catholic, raised in the church, but had walked away. He said he doesn’t feel God’s presence anymore—in fact, he feels dead inside. His life had been consumed by years of alcohol and fentanyl addiction. He had endured multiple back surgeries, but never fully recovered, and the pain had left him broken and hopeless.
As I listened to his story, I knew without a doubt that God was pursuing this one. He had sent me into the middle of the forest, not just for a hike, but to find this lost soul.
I shared my own testimony with him, explaining that this is not about religion—it’s about a relationship with Jesus. He had been stuck in the spirit of religion since childhood, and it left him empty, dead inside.
I asked if I could pray for him, and he agreed. As I prayed, God touched him. Right there, in the middle of the forest, he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The power of the Holy Spirit moved—he was instantly released, freed, and felt the heavy weight of oppression lift off him.
To God be the glory! Jesus died for our sins so we could have life, and on that day, life was breathed back into this man’s soul. God, in His mercy, came to rescue him right there in the wilderness.
This man will never be the same again. God touched him, poured out His mercy, and brought him back into His arms. Truly, the Shepherd left the ninety-nine to find the one who was lost.
If God would leave the ninety-nine to find one man lost in the forest, imagine how deeply He is pursuing you. No matter how far you feel from Him, His love is greater. He hasn’t abandoned you—He is searching, calling, and ready to bring you back into His arms.
If you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus, today can be the day. Pray and invite Him into your heart as Lord and Savior. He will meet you right where you are—just as He met that man in the forest—and He will never let you go.
Repeat after me:
“Lord Jesus, I come to You today just as I am. I confess that I am a sinner and that I need Your forgiveness. I believe You died on the cross for my sins and rose again to give me life. Today, I choose to turn away from my old ways and surrender my heart to You. Be my Lord, my Savior, and my Shepherd. Thank You for loving me and for welcoming me into Your family. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”