The Pursuit

Calm down. Pick your spot. Breathe. Then hold your breath and slowly squeeze the trigger.

I couldn’t believe what was happening. The ten‑point buck I had been chasing for two years stood broadside fifty yards in front of me, completely unaware of my presence.

It was Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and I planned to hunt down in the swamp. As I walked toward it, I felt impressed by God to go twenty yards past the old shack. Just off the big field, tucked into the woods, stood that weathered shack and an outhouse. I never knew if anyone had lived there. I had hunted from the shack before, but never with any success.

As I walked past it, I noticed two fir trees and a fallen log lying beside them. Together they formed a natural blind—concealment from both the swamp and the field. It was the perfect ambush spot, and I marveled that I had never noticed it before.

I whispered, “God, You’re so smart.” Immediately He reminded me of a scripture He had given me earlier: “But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.” (Psalm 32:10)

As dusk approached, I heard what sounded like a deer grunt. I strained to listen, and there it was again. I took out my doe call and let out a bleat. After a moment, he grunted back. I switched the dial to a doe grunt and called again. He answered. One more bleat—then I put the call away. I had learned the hard way that calling too much can ruin a hunt.

Five minutes passed with no sign of him. I began to think he had slipped away, and I considered heading back to the truck. But I felt led by God to stay put. Leaning back against the tree, I smiled. It seemed God wanted me to get this deer even more than I did.

Then I heard movement in the swamp grass. A deer stepped into an opening where the last rays of sunlight shone—and I realized it wasn’t a doe. It was a massive buck.

My heart pounded. I had to talk myself down: Calm down. Steady your breathing. Pick your spot. Hold your breath. Slowly squeeze the trigger.

The rifle leaped in my hands. The buck took off—running straight toward me. He had no idea where the shot came from. He ran headfirst into a hill, flipped, got up, and circled back toward the swamp before collapsing.

I hurried to him—without running—and touched his eye with the barrel of my rifle. No reaction. I set my rifle down and grabbed his antlers. When I lifted his head, he let out a grunt. I jumped back, startled, and grabbed my rifle again. Another eye check—still no reaction.

He weighed 185 pounds, estimated at 225 pounds live weight. He was a nine‑point buck (5x4), having broken off a point during the rut. People told me to have a taxidermist fix it, but I couldn’t do that. It wouldn’t be the buck I shot.

That night taught me two important lessons.

When I reached my truck, my hunting partners were there. As they loaded their weapons, I walked around looking for my rifle. One of them asked what I was doing. I told him I couldn’t find my rifle. He pointed to my left hand. I looked down—there it was. I thanked him.

That should have been my warning not to drive. But adrenaline makes fools of us all. I tore down that old tractor path at forty miles an hour. If you’ve ever shot a big buck, you know the fear—that some spaceship will swoop down and steal it before you get back. So you rush. And you should always wear your seat belt.

But the second lesson—the most important one—is about the pursuit.

Why did I pursue that buck for two years? Why do we pursue careers, fame, money, recognition, relationships, degrees, or anything else we think will complete us?

I believe it’s because we are made in God’s image. Pursuit is part of His character—His DNA.

God demonstrates His love through His pursuit of us. He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to seek and save the lost. And He did this not when we were clean or worthy, but while we were sinners. God is the One pursuing us—not the other way around.

We act as though we invented love—comforting our children, singing to them, dancing with them, giving gifts, writing cards. Yet God has been doing these things since the beginning. Scripture says He sings over us, He quiets us with His love, He gives us gifts—and He gave the greatest gift of all: Jesus.

Why? Because He loves us. Because humanity is the object of His affection. And all we need to do is believe it by faith, and believe that God wants and will have a Worldwide Great Awakening! Amen

If you struggle to believe you are the object of God’s love, ask Him for the faith to believe. Look to Jesus and the finished work of the cross. Allow God to pursue you even as you pursue your dreams and goals.

“But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.” (Psalm 32:10)

Devotional Reflection Questions

1. Where in your life do you feel God “nudging” you the way He nudged me past the shack?   What might He be trying to show you?

2. What are you currently pursuing with great passion?   How does that pursuit reflect the deeper longing God placed in your heart?

3. Have you ever experienced God pursuing you—through circumstances, people, or quiet impressions?   What did that moment teach you?

4. Psalm 32:10 says mercy surrounds those who trust the Lord.   Where do you need to trust Him more deeply today?

5. What would change in your life if you truly believed you are the object of God’s love?

6. Take a moment to pray:   “Lord, give me the faith to believe Your love, and help me recognize Your pursuit of my heart.”