Subtitle: God pursues us even though we are unworthy.

Excerpt: The author compares his relationship with God to squirrels, acknowledging God’s persistent pursuit and realizing our worthiness of God’s love.

Author: I.M. Koen

I live on the top floor of a mid-rise apartment building that is surrounded by trees. It’s dubbed “the tree house” because when the leaves are in, nothing can be seen but tree branches and sky. It feels like I’m living in the wilderness, alone and isolated, except for the occasional police siren or obnoxious motorcycle exhaust pipes blaring in the distance. Multiple feeders summon birds of all kinds to come and feast freely. Tree branches that rub against the building function as a tightrope for squirrels to come and drink from a water dish and eat the peanuts I leave out for them.

I often sit on the balcony, coffee in hand, as the morning sun rises and a cool breeze blows. I chat with God. But this morning was chaos. I walked out to find a riot. There must have been 15 to 20 squirrels frantically running up and down the branches of every tree. Male squirrels were fighting. Females were fleeing, leaping amazing distances from tree to tree. It was loud and spectacular. I sat and wondered what the heck was happening. And where did all these squirrels come from? It was a brown, furry invasion.

And then God showed up.

He was about to show me something about myself in the mating ritual of squirrels.

“But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being.” Romans 1:20

First, some basic squirrel knowledge.

Squirrels have short, intense breeding windows, not long seasons of heat like other animals. Female squirrels are in estrus (“heat”) for only a few hours twice a year. During that brief window, they’re receptive and will mate multiple times. When a female enters heat, multiple males pursue her, often chasing for hours. Once the window closes, she’s no longer receptive.

I watched two squirrels (a male and a female) for a long time. Because what I was witnessing had profound spiritual implications.  They were about 20 feet in front of me at the very top of a tree. She had zero interest in connecting with the male. But he was tenacious in his desire for connection. To keep from being grasped, she positioned herself at the end of a very thin branch that was barely strong enough to bear her weight. As he kept trying to approach, the branch would bend, and he would tumble down to a lower branch.

All she had to do was stay where she was, and she was unattainable. But the male had other plans. His relentless pursuit was admirable. He would get so close, only to be disappointed repeatedly. He would leap to different branches to see if another angle would be available. He would chirp and wave his tail. Or impressively hang by his back feet. Sometimes they would sit close, their faces only inches apart, and look at each other. They were SO CLOSE. But she wasn’t willing to connect.

I wondered why? What was she thinking? He was obviously the strongest and bravest of all the male squirrels clamoring this morning. Their union would have produced rugged, powerful offspring. They could have collaborated and created a lineage of mega-squirrels. But she refused his advances.

That Female Squirrel Was Me.

For most of my life, God has been pursuing me with His love. He wanted to connect. He wanted to produce something mighty with our union. But I wouldn’t have it. So, I positioned myself on the thin, feeble branch of this present world. I blocked His access to me. He tried every angle of approach unsuccessfully. His desire never waned. He was never discouraged. He never gave up. He never left me for another squirrel.

He never got pouty and said, “Fine! If you won’t connect with me, screw you. I’m outta here. There are far better squirrels out there. Good luck with your sad, pathetic life.”

No. Just the opposite was true. Like that male squirrel who patiently sat on the lower branch, positioning his face as close to the obstinate female’s as he could, God patiently waited for me.

Here’s what broke me this morning. Why would God do that?

Because He knew I was worth it. I was worth the wait. I watched that truth play out with two squirrels in a tree. And a tear ran down my cheek. Their story was my story.

I wasn’t safe and secure on a small branch at the top of a tree with an amazing view. I was sad, lonely, and hurting. God wasn’t just another male squirrel. He was the One who made me and was jealous for my affection. He was patient.

That’s How God Rolls

God seeks and pursues the lost. Jesus defines His mission as a pursuit. (Luke 19:10) He doesn’t wait for the lost to find their way. He goes after them.

“Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. He leaves the 99 in the wilderness and looks for the one that is lost until he finds it, doesn’t he?” Luke 15:4

Through Ezekiel, God said,

“I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out… I will rescue them.” (34:11–12)

God takes personal responsibility for pursuing those who have scattered. Why? Because they are worth it.

God chases us with love and mercy. David said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Psalm 23:6 The Hebrew word for follow (רָדַף, radaph) literally means “pursue” or “chase.” God’s goodness isn’t passive or conditional. It’s coming after you.

The Bible does not portray God as distant, disappointed, or reluctant. It shows a Father who comes running, a Shepherd who keeps searching, and a Savior who crossed heaven and earth to bring us home.

The Word says God is not hiding from us. He is coming for us.

From the moment Adam hid in the garden, and God asked, “Where are you?” (not because He didn’t know, but because He was seeking), the pattern is set. God moves first.

He pursued:

• Hagar in the wilderness
• Jacob while running
• Moses while hiding
• David after failure
• Peter after denial
• Paul while persecuting

And He’s still doing it today.

Friend, it’s no accident you came across this article today. The window of connection is open. But not forever. The season of union is here. You are being radically pursued by a God who will try every branch to get to you. He will utilize every method to get your full attention. Not because He is a biologically horny squirrel who wants to mate one time and leave. No, God wants to form a perfect union with you to build something magnificent. He is in it for the long haul. For eternity.

You are not an animal. You are His precious mate. His bride. His special treasure. His reward.

“The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deut 7:6

In Hebrew, the word often translated “treasured possession” (segullah) refers to a king’s private treasure. It means something valued not for usefulness, but for delight and ownership.

Are you on a branch, positioned to stay away from the 20 other crazy squirrels running, chirping, and creating a frenzy? I get it. I was, too. But one day, I noticed a face remarkably close to mine, waiting, watching, loving, and ready to bond. He had been there all along. And that changed everything.

Are you ready to change position?

Thank you for reading this. I pray you can see the glorious hand of God every day in creation. Look for it. It’s there.