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I am oftentimes struck by how very good my God is to me. He’s the peace I find in the midst of the storm, the sense of comfort I feel when I’m hurt or distressed, and the joy that can overwhelm me to tears when I look over my life’s path and see the loving care He has showered on me all long the way. I am proud to be His daughter. But sometimes I forget that, just like any parent, God also has those moments of joyful pride in me.
Stop and think about that for a minute. The God of the universe, the creator of all that is known and unknown, seeks over all the world to find those whose hearts are committed to Him (Jeremiah 17:10; 2 Chronicles 16:9). And when He sees you and me striving to follow Him in our own fumbling way, it brings Him joy. Consider the following:
“The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11) “For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory” (Psalm 149:4) “…He is pleased with those that try to do it right” (Proverbs 11:20) “…He delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22) “The Eternal your God is standing right here among you, and He is the champion who will rescue you. He will joyfully celebrate over you; He will rest in His love for you; He will joyfully sing because of you like a new husband” (Zephaniah 3:17)
When I am in the midst of confusion or pain but choose to trust Him in circumstances I don’t understand, His heart swells with pride in me. When I praise Him in the midst of blessing, acknowledging Him in the good moments of my life, it delights His heart. When I stand up and fight against my own traitorous thoughts, the ugliness that gets in the way of me being able to see His face, it pleases Him. When I get the chance to share about Him with someone who doesn’t know Him, He calls me beautiful (Romans 10:15).
Have you ever thought about that before? That you have the ability to bring joy to God’s heart? That just as your heart swells when your own child or dear friend experiences break through or victory or blessing, God’s heart swells the same way for you? That when we selflessly give, His response is to jubilantly sing? Those are powerful, life-breathing, joy-giving thoughts! The Creator of the world who has loved us and blessed us so richly actually sees us as a blessing in return. Wow!
So the next time you’re feeling beat up or beat down, remember that regardless of how many times you fail, God is rooting for you to keep trying. And every time you keep trying, He is right there cheering you on. Every time you fight back, He is standing behind You singing encouragement into your soul, and every time you win the battle, He joyfully celebrates over you. Even if your acts of faith don’t matter to anyone else, they matter deeply to God. Even if others demean you, God delights in you. And in the end, He promises to crown you with victory.
For Further Thought: Think of some positive decisions you made this past week, big or small. Write them down. Then, take a moment to envision God looking over the list with you, a proud Papa who is pleased to celebrate each of these moments together. As you move forward, pull to mind that image of God smiling over you when you make a positive choice, and rooting for your victory when you stumble regardless of what anyone else around you does. Remember He chooses to sing over you! Hold that thought close to your heart, so your heart can smile, too, regardless of your circumstance.
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