Rocking in the Darkness

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

Recently, I discovered this verse and it brings me so much peace. In my mind, I go back to a place some 16-18 years ago. I am taken to the middle of the night, to the sound of a child, precious to me, crying out in hunger. Picking them up, I would rock them and sing to them while they filled an empty tummy. It was quiet, peaceful and my child was at perfect ease. They knew they were being fed, nourished and perfectly safe in the arms of the person who loved them most. They had faith that the person rocking and singing would always take care of them. In fact, as a mom, I wanted nothing but the best for them and had visions of the grand things they would do in life, of the great person they would grow to be.

God is the father who lovingly holds us in his arms and sings over us. He looks at us and he is delighted. He doesn't focus on the spit up or the flaws...He focuses on the beautiful face of HIS child, the one He holds so dear to Him. And God, so much more than me as a parent, wants all the best for me. He envisions me being all I can be in Him. He envisions me becoming the perfect reflection of His love.

What an awesome picture of a mighty,loving God. Our God isn't set on destroying us...He preference is to be the father we can run to. The one who answers when we cry out in our darkness. The one who hears us and picks us up, and nourishes us with His peace, His comfort and His rejoicing. The one who is constantly pushing us to know Him and live in His image.

Seek Him and let Him take delight in you...let Him quiet you and then embrace His rejoicing over you and sing along with Him. Live in the peace of His love and his joy.