“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
A little child was learning how to write her name. Each afternoon, she sat at the table with a pencil too big for her fingers, filling pages with crooked letters and shaky lines. Most of the time, the letters were barely recognisable. She would sigh, erase, and try again. But every time she looked up, she found her father watching — not correcting, or criticising, just smiling. When she finally pushed the paper towards him and said, “It’s not nice,” he laughed softly, pulled her into his arms, and said, “I love it. I love you.”
The father did not delight in the perfection of the letters; he delighted in the child. Her effort, her presence, her nearness brought him joy. Even in the mess, even in the learning, his love did not waver. He stayed close, cheering quietly, enjoying the moment.
That is the picture Zephaniah 3:17 gives us of God: “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save… he will rejoice over thee with joy… he will joy over thee with singing.” God does not stand over us with folded arms, waiting for flawlessness. He stands in our midst, mighty to save, resting in love, rejoicing over us — not occasionally or conditionally, but always.
Charge: God’s delight in you is not earned; it is declared. Even when you are still learning, growing, and imperfect, He sings over you. His joy is not rooted in your performance but in your identity as His child. You are not tolerated; you are treasured.
Further Study: Deuteronomy 30:9; Psalm 149:4; Proverbs 8:30-31; Isaiah 62:4-5, 65:19; Jeremiah 31:3; John 14:23; Romans 8:38-39.
