Years ago, when my oldest son was around 10 years old, we would play baseball in the back yard. At the time we had a big yard that was perfect for hitting pop flies and practicing catching them. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of baseballs as I would sometimes hit them into the field next to our yard.

One day we were playing, and I hit our last baseball into the field so we decided we would go into the field and search for the lost ball. The field was already harvested and had been plowed at least once so we were sure it would be no problem to walk the field looking for our baseball and hopefully find extras.

We were wrong. We had not been in the field more than a few minutes when the farmer came around the side of his house yelling at us. I only understood one thing he said, “Get back where you belong!” I shouted back that we were looking for our lost baseball. He shouted back, I don’t care get back where you belong!” Not wanting to cause any problems we went back to our yard where we belonged.

I don’t know about you, but these last several months have felt like I’ve been wandering in a field looking for a baseball and I just need to get back where I belong.

I want to go to Walmart and not wear a mask.  I want to cough or sneeze in public without wondering who thinks I have the virus. I want my family members and friends who are at extra risk or feeling extra stressed to feel safe again. I want to see lots of kids at church again.

I just want to get back where we belong.

I am thankful for how this time has reminded me of things that I have taken for granted such as church on Sunday mornings, small groups during the week and Wednesday nights. I have been especially reminded during this time of how God is in control, He has not gone anywhere, and I still belong to Himdespite being distracted by all the “voices” yelling at me.

Psalm 100:3 says this Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

And John 10:27-28 says My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

These scriptures remind us of the promise that God never changes, we are His and if we stay focused on Him and His son Jesus we will be exactly where we need to be even if everything around us has changed.