Retired Marine Prays To God And Then Follows His 'Gut' To Find Missing 2-Year-Old

Retired Marine Roy Link didn't know 2-year-old JJ Rowland or his family, but when the 62-year-old man heard a boy had gone missing, he couldn't resist joining the search. He turned to God for help and it led him straight to the lost child!

After laying down to take a nap with her 2-year-old son, the mother of Joshua "JJ" Rowland awoke to every parent's nightmare. Her child was nowhere to be found. 

RELATED: Nerve-Wracking Search For Missing 3-Year-Old Girl Ends When K-9 Team Hears 1 Word: ‘Doggy’

News of the missing child tugged at the heart of Florida resident Roy Link. And the Marine veteran quickly abandoned his plans to go fishing and joined the search for little JJ.

“How could you not?” the humble man pondered.

Crews had already been searching for 24 hours without any success. And this caused mounting concern over the boy's well-being. 

“That long period — everybody starts thinking the worst, and it’s hard not to. It’s like how can all these people and all these deputies [have] searched all this and not find a clue?” Roy said.

Divine Guidance In Search For JJ Rowland

About an hour after going off to search on his own, Roy turned to the Lord for help.

"I said a prayer about 10 minutes before I found him," he recalled later.

RELATED: Huge Search for Missing 4-Year-Old Kept Coming Up Short But Then Man’s Dream Led Them to Her

Coming upon an open field, Roy faced two different areas of woods to search. And he relied upon his gut feeling when selecting which area to explore in the hopes of finding JJ Rowland.

Just minutes after heading down his chosen path and he heard whimpering. The sounds led him straight to the little boy, who was standing barefoot among briars with tears in his eyes. And after Roy assured JJ he would take him back to his mom, the little boy climbed into his arms and clung to his rescuer tightly.

WATCH: Volunteer's 911 Call After Finding Missing 2-Year-Old

Roy Link called in to report JJ Rowland safe and then carried the boy back to rescue crews. Overwhelmed by the crowd, the scared boy held on to Roy, only getting into the ambulance so long as Roy joined him.

“He had scratches all over his arms and legs, but he really looked in good health,” Roy said. “He did not look like a 2-year-old that’s been out in the woods for ever-how-many hours.”

RELATED: Incredible Moment Police Found Cleo Smith Alive After the 4-Year-Old Was Missing for 2 Weeks

Despite having traveled a "good distance" from his home and spending over 24 hours in the woods, paramedics found JJ Rowland to be in good condition. And everyone rejoiced over the happy ending that defied all the odds.

“I was hoping and praying for a miracle. I certainly was not expecting one,” the sheriff said.

Everyone has praised Roy Link for his noble efforts. But the Marine veteran humbly shrugged off all the acclaim

"You know, it could have been anyone [who found him]. It just happened to be me," he said.

And emotions took over after a reporter asked Roy what it was like coming up on 2-year-old JJ Rowland lost in the woods.

"You know, it's so many emotions," he said, pausing to fight back tears. After collecting himself, Roy then continued, "I would say who wouldn't get emotional in that kind of situation, you know? But I was just so happy I found him, so happy he was alive and well. Just seeing the parents reunited with him -- I couldn't ask for a better day, a better outcome."

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Missing 3-Year-Old Found Alive And The Man Who Found Him Says It Was All God

God undoubtedly worked a miracle through this man and we're so glad little JJ is safely back home with his family!

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk you in it.'" Isaiah 30:21

WATCH: Former Marine Recalls The Moment He Found JJ Rowland

God is here to guide us no matter what we face. So, if you find yourself in need of divine help, find inspiration in the video below!

A Reminder That God's Guidance Is Sure

LISTEN: Mom Gives Birth To Baby And Wins The Lottery | Man Stays Alive With Thoughts Of Daughter

h/t: Sunny Skyz

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/FOX 13 Tampa Bay

Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!