It's Not All Bad. In Fact, It's Delightful

A few days ago I met with a group of men, most of whom I had never met. The fellow who called the meeting knows all of us through different relationships, and invited us to meet with one another.

He made a few brief comments and then said, “Let’s begin with introductions. Please say your name, and one thing about yourself that you believe God loves and delights in.” What was funny was that it caught me off guard.

Nearly every group I’ve ever been in like this begins with talking about struggles, failures and what areas we want to work on in our lives. But I’ve never begun with what’s right with us. Then I began to think about how God, our loving father, thinks about us.

I grew up in a world where what was talked about most was how bad we were. What was subtly caught and taught was that deep down inside we are awful and we are lucky that God even glances in our direction. A proper response then is to grovel before the feet of God, and never stop thanking him for his love, because we certainly don’t deserve it.

This way of thinking, of course, is rubbish. What we can never forget is the fact that “God is love.” He is our loving father, and he does, in fact delight in us.

My wife and I have three kids, and I am always gushing about them. Anytime, anyone asks me about them I waste no time in pulling out my phone and showing every picture I have. They make me laugh and smile. The best part of my day – everyday – is coming home to hug and kiss them. To ask them about their day. To hear them laugh. To eat dinner with them. There is so much I love about them, and I want them to know it in their bones.

Sitting with that group of men it dawned on me – that’s what God feels about his kids. Why then do we spend so little time sharing about his delight in us? That time of sharing was one the richest things that I have experienced in a long time.

So I ask you, “What’s is it about you that you believe God loves and delights in?” Spend time on that one. Tell someone else. Never forget that we have a father in heaven who gushes about us.