I’ve had a phrase tumbling around in my head for the last couple of weeks. I read it in passing, and yet it buried itself in my subconscience for further, and frequent, review.

…those years when my soul went questing.

Questing. “A long and arduous search for something” according to an online dictionary.

I think our souls are inherently made to quest, to look for the missing piece, which is, of course, our Maker…our Home. He’s with us the entire time, showing Himself again and again, and just waiting for us to turn around and see Him there. But, I think we continue, in our humanness, even after we’ve found Him. Our enemy tries to make us believe we’re still missing something, that there’s more that we need, more to accomplish, more accolades to amass, more importance to be gained. So, we set out on that quest for more, and we go alone, this time, off on a different road. God doesn’t leave us, because He promised not to. We leave Him, instead.

And we quest, and we search, and we strive, but we are never quite satisfied.

If we’re smart, we remember the fullness of Him, and turn back, finding Him right where we left Him, running into His open arms. Then we grab His hand and walk with Him in a quest of a different kind. A search for meaning within His will, a journey to bring great accolades to His name, an expedition that lands us on mountaintops beyond our wildest imaginings.

Yes, I believe our souls will always search until they’re Home. But it’s the wise sojourner who quests in the shadow of Mapmaker.

“You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33 ESV

“Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133 ESV