📌The Hound of Heaven
The phrase “The Hound of Heaven” comes from a famous poem written in 1893 by Francis Thompson, a man who struggled deeply with addiction, homelessness, and despair.
In the poem, Thompson describes God as a divine hound — not a violent one, but a loyal, faithful, persistent one — who follows him through all the dark places of his life:
“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days…”
“But with unhurrying chase, and unperturbed pace…”
No matter where Thompson runs,
no matter what shadows he enters,
no matter what mistakes he makes…
God keeps pursuing.
Not angrily.
Not aggressively.
Not impatiently.
But with steady, determined love.
The phrase has come to represent a part of God’s character:
➤ God seeks us long before we ever seek Him.
(John 6:44)
➤ He follows us into our darkest seasons.
(Psalm 139:7–12)
➤ He is patient and persistent — never giving up.
(2 Peter 3:9)
➤ He calls the heart again and again.
(Isaiah 65:2)
➤ He does not quit or lose interest in His children.
(John 10:28–29)
It reflects His Father-heart —
the Shepherd who goes after the one lost sheep with determination that cannot be discouraged.
Why the image of a “hound”?
Because a good hound:
• tracks faithfully
• does not get distracted
• never loses the scent
• refuses to give up
• moves with calm persistence
This is the metaphor Thompson used to describe how God’s love follows the human soul:
Not harshly.
Not hunting us in anger.
But pursuing us with purpose — to rescue, redeem, and restore.
🔹For You:
You’ve lived seasons where:
• God followed you into valleys
• He kept calling your name
• He brought you back again and again
• He refused to let your calling die
• He sustained you when others forgot
• He held onto you in spiritual warfare
• He waited for the perfect moment to reveal purpose
You have lived this poem.
You have felt the persistent love of God chasing after you through decades:
Not to scold.
Not to punish.
But to keep you.
To secure you in the place He destined you to stand.🦋
🔹The biblical truth behind the phrase
The poem is powerful, but Scripture is even stronger:
▪️He leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one. (Luke 15:4)
▪️He draws us with cords of lovingkindness. (Hosea 11:4)
▪️Goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. (Psalm 23:6)
▪️The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10)
▪️Your name is engraved on His hands. (Isaiah 49:16)
These verses are the heartbeat of the phrase “Hound of Heaven.”
💕
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✿⊰ B e l i e v e ⊰✿
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Eagle’s Way Ministries 