I have always loved Zephaniah 3:17. It reminds me of the love of a parent for his or her young children. It says,
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)
The young mom on my flight to Washington not too long ago was managing four bags, two young kids, and thousands of miles. It was amazing to watch.
The three year old son wanted a juice, and the baby was immediately jealous. As the mom dug out a muffin for the baby to share, the older boy got frustrated trying to open the juice. As mom’s hands reached to the juice container, the baby tossed the muffin. As mom salvaged parts of the muffin, the older boy started digging for his preferred flavor of juice in a bag that didn’t have the juice in it. Round and round things went. Mom was tirelessly active back and forth, directing, redirecting, distracting, managing. She never stopped engaging with them. She never lost control or lost sight or lost focus of what was happening. Every fit of anger, every tossed piece of muffin, every wrong bag dug into was a calculated allowance by mom. She would let them do what they were about to do, because they would be okay until she was done with whatever action she was in the middle of with the other boy.
Of course, this is a wonderful picture of our heavenly Father with us.
We want what we want, we look for it in the wrong places like a kid digging in the wrong bag for a better juice than what we’ve got. Just so, He lets us dig in the wrong places though He knows we won’t find what we’re looking for, because He’s given us what we need. We’re okay.
He is always working, always watching, always securing the circumstances for what He wants for us. Like mom plugging in headphones for one while somehow shaking the bottle for the other, God is brilliantly giving us more than we need, and offering His love in both practical and enjoyable ways.
I watched the mom rock her baby while the older boy settled in to watch a show with headphones on a phone. The bottle got drunk. The older boy giggled at the phone. Mom looked back and forth and smiled. The baby’s eyes were heavy for an instant, but then he began wriggling in her arms. The boy almost immediately got frustrated with his disappearing juice (remember the one he didn’t want?). The baby started crying. The tranquil moment passed before it really began… but I’d seen it.
Even now, as the boy kicks a seat and starts hitting the window with the phone, and the baby starts wailing not wanting to fall asleep… (hmmm…. what’s that smell, I wonder?), I can’t forget the sweet moment that flitted by. I’d seen the joy and peace and purposefulness in the glint of love in mom’s eye.
Perfect love and fulfillment amidst the chaos of our temperamental trials.
You are on a journey. It seems like a huge trip and you can’t get what’s necessary and frustrations are everywhere. But God knows what you need, my friend. He knows exactly how and when and from where it will come. He is at His perfect work. He will fulfill His purpose. He is not daunted by your turmoil and tantrums, your messiness and mayhem. He never expected you to be better at meeting your own needs or avoiding struggles. He doesn’t want you to be His competent peer, but only His beloved child.
Have you made any messes recently? Thrown any tantrums? Looked for what you wanted in the wrong place or been frustrated with your circumstance? Felt hurt or helpless?
Of course you have. Me too.
In this moment – this mess and tantrum and helplessness and independence and frustration – He’s happy with you and about you. He’s with you by choice and has you on the journey with Him if you are in Christ.
There is nothing you can provide for yourself, but there is nothing He hasn’t already provided for.
When you are exasperated He is excited. When you are confused He remains confident. When you are wailing He is winsome. As you struggle with Him like a child in loving arms, He is singing over you, knowing you’re okay when you don’t, and embracing the perfect relationship of Father and child.
He’s got you. He’s got this. And occasionally, you will look up into His smiling, doting, loving, perfectly contented countenance, enjoying who you are and who you are learning to be, as you receive all He has for you along the journey only He can take you on.
It will be one of a billion perfect moments that give purpose to His passion and Fruit to His Labor of love in your life.
The mom on my flight shared a smile with a lady across the aisle enjoying a glance at the now quiet kids. Heavy eyes on a phone screen as mom adjusts the volume. The baby lays limply but securely nestled in mom’s arms. It won’t last long, but it isn’t supposed to, is it? Already they are hundreds of miles from where they started and drawing closer to home.
We are all growing up and headed home with the One rejoicing over us along the way. Maybe you will soon catch a glimpse of His loving gaze toward you. What a perfect moment that will be, as you enjoy Him enjoying you.
If you listen, you may even hear His gentle voice singing over you even now.
I have always loved Zephaniah 3:17. It reminds me of the love of a parent for his or her young children. It says,
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)
The young mom on my flight to Washington not too long ago was managing four bags, two young kids, and thousands of miles. It was amazing to watch.
The three year old son wanted a juice, and the baby was immediately jealous. As the mom dug out a muffin for the baby to share, the older boy got frustrated trying to open the juice. As mom’s hands reached to the juice container, the baby tossed the muffin. As mom salvaged parts of the muffin, the older boy started digging for his preferred flavor of juice in a bag that didn’t have the juice in it. Round and round things went. Mom was tirelessly active back and forth, directing, redirecting, distracting, managing. She never stopped engaging with them. She never lost control or lost sight or lost focus of what was happening. Every fit of anger, every tossed piece of muffin, every wrong bag dug into was a calculated allowance by mom. She would let them do what they were about to do, because they would be okay until she was done with whatever action she was in the middle of with the other boy.
Of course, this is a wonderful picture of our heavenly Father with us.
We want what we want, we look for it in the wrong places like a kid digging in the wrong bag for a better juice than what we’ve got. Just so, He lets us dig in the wrong places though He knows we won’t find what we’re looking for, because He’s given us what we need. We’re okay.
He is always working, always watching, always securing the circumstances for what He wants for us. Like mom plugging in headphones for one while somehow shaking the bottle for the other, God is brilliantly giving us more than we need, and offering His love in both practical and enjoyable ways.
I watched the mom rock her baby while the older boy settled in to watch a show with headphones on a phone. The bottle got drunk. The older boy giggled at the phone. Mom looked back and forth and smiled. The baby’s eyes were heavy for an instant, but then he began wriggling in her arms. The boy almost immediately got frustrated with his disappearing juice (remember the one he didn’t want?). The baby started crying. The tranquil moment passed before it really began… but I’d seen it.
Even now, as the boy kicks a seat and starts hitting the window with the phone, and the baby starts wailing not wanting to fall asleep… (hmmm…. what’s that smell, I wonder?), I can’t forget the sweet moment that flitted by. I’d seen the joy and peace and purposefulness in the glint of love in mom’s eye.
Perfect love and fulfillment amidst the chaos of our temperamental trials.
You are on a journey. It seems like a huge trip and you can’t get what’s necessary and frustrations are everywhere. But God knows what you need, my friend. He knows exactly how and when and from where it will come. He is at His perfect work. He will fulfill His purpose. He is not daunted by your turmoil and tantrums, your messiness and mayhem. He never expected you to be better at meeting your own needs or avoiding struggles. He doesn’t want you to be His competent peer, but only His beloved child.
Have you made any messes recently? Thrown any tantrums? Looked for what you wanted in the wrong place or been frustrated with your circumstance? Felt hurt or helpless?
Of course you have. Me too.
In this moment – this mess and tantrum and helplessness and independence and frustration – He’s happy with you and about you. He’s with you by choice and has you on the journey with Him if you are in Christ.
There is nothing you can provide for yourself, but there is nothing He hasn’t already provided for.
When you are exasperated He is excited. When you are confused He remains confident. When you are wailing He is winsome. As you struggle with Him like a child in loving arms, He is singing over you, knowing you’re okay when you don’t, and embracing the perfect relationship of Father and child.
He’s got you. He’s got this. And occasionally, you will look up into His smiling, doting, loving, perfectly contented countenance, enjoying who you are and who you are learning to be, as you receive all He has for you along the journey only He can take you on.
It will be one of a billion perfect moments that give purpose to His passion and Fruit to His Labor of love in your life.
The mom on my flight shared a smile with a lady across the aisle enjoying a glance at the now quiet kids. Heavy eyes on a phone screen as mom adjusts the volume. The baby lays limply but securely nestled in mom’s arms. It won’t last long, but it isn’t supposed to, is it? Already they are hundreds of miles from where they started and drawing closer to home.
We are all growing up and headed home with the One rejoicing over us along the way. Maybe you will soon catch a glimpse of His loving gaze toward you. What a perfect moment that will be, as you enjoy Him enjoying you.
If you listen, you may even hear His gentle voice singing over you even now.