Sheer Delight

He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.

2 Samuel 22:20

When I was in third or fourth grade, I remember a particularly delightful surprise at my first sleepover birthday party. I invited a group of girls to bring their own pillows and sleeping bags and spend the night. Little did I know when we awoke the next morning that my mom and dad would scoop us all into the car with our pajamas on and drive us twenty minutes away for ice-cream sundaes for breakfast. Now that was a delight!

When I turn once again to my trusty children’s dictionary, I learn that the word delight means “great pleasure.” Did you know that God delights in His children? Because He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and for all eternity, God has always delighted in each one of us and always will. Wow! Put your name in the blank and see how meaningful that is: God delighted in ___________ before she was born, and God delights in ____________ now. God will delight in ____________ forever! I don’t know about you, but that almost makes me squeal aloud.

When we delight in someone, we long for that person. This longing creates a desire to spend time together. That describes God’s desire toward us.

Dwell on this truth today and every day: God takes great pleasure in you and me. Jesus took great pleasure in saving us, despite His pain and separation from His heavenly Father while on the cross. He still takes great pleasure in being with us, in growing and restoring and healing and loving us and offering us grace and truth, no matter what our past, our present, or our future. His delight toward us is steadfast. It bubbles up in our souls and helps us delight in Him right back.

Treat a friend to something sweet, whether it’s edible or not. Be delighted today that God delights in you and me!