Have you ever known someone who had a really contagious laugh? One who took such delight in something that you couldn’t help but join in?
My son was like that as a little boy. His laughter would get all of us rolling in laughter.
One memory that will always stick in my mind is the watching “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”. He was just a little guy back then, but he found Max the dog so funny, and laughed with such contagious enjoyment that the whole family ended up laughing with him as he took complete delight in the antics of that funny little dog!
The bible tells us that God takes that kind of delight in each of us. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true… He really does!
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
There are times in my life that sin gets in the way of my experiencing God’s delight in me. Thankfully, all I have to do is confess that sin and I am again right with God.
More often, however, it’s not sin that keeps me from experiencing God’s love and delight, but it’s my own expectations. I try to squeeze myself into the “perfect” mold and when I don’t fit, I feel unacceptable.
With my chronic illness, much of what I used to “do for God” has been left behind and replaced with fatigue and pain. I’ve found myself wondering how God is going to delight in me if I’m not doing all the things I used to do for Him.
God has forced me out of my mold to show me that it’s not what I “accomplish” that brings him delight. It’s me he sings over. Just being who he made me to be brings him great delight!
I am beginning to understand that I can stay in my pajamas all day and know I bring him delight. I can blog a little and even miss spelling or grammar errors and still know I bring him delight. I can sit and paint and know I bring him delight. I can spend most of my day in a recliner, and not even get a dinner made and know I bring him delight. Some days I can hardly account for what I did or accomplished, but God still rejoices over me with singing.
Wow! It’s hard to believe, but it’s true!
God delights in you too! He made you and he delights in who you are!
I pray that you, too, will begin to experience the depth of his love, just as I have begun to experience it with great delight and rejoicing. And the amazing thing is that God’s delight is contagious, just like my son’s laughter. The more we experience his delight over us, the more we love Him and want to be with him and suddenly the delight becomes quite mutual!
My PRAYER – Pray it with me?
Heavenly Father, I don’t always like who I am. It’s hard to believe that you do. Please help me to understand your love for me and to experience your great delight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
When have you experienced God’s great delight in you?
Is there anything keeping you from hearing Him rejoicing over you?
Filed under: Family, Life, Spiritual Tagged: | Delight, Encouragement, Laugh
Wow. God knew I needed to see this post. I have struggled this week with my arthritis and fibromyalgia and have spent a lot of time on the couch or in bed. I have also been really down on myself about not being able to do my job as a wife or mom. Thank you for sharing that scripture. It definitely made me feel better. God is so awesome!
Love your site Melanie! And you too, of course:)