My 3-year-old daughter caught me staring at her. “Mommy, why are you looking at me like that?” “Because I love you and delight in you,” I said. “God looks at you that way too.” “You mean, God looks happy at me?” she earnestly inquired. “Yes!” I said. “God always looks happy at you,” I emphasized. “Then I look happy at Jesus, at you, at daddy, and [my] sisters,” she concluded. When she finished, I think she could see me beaming with happiness. I want my three daughters to know deep down that God delights in them and loves them “with an everlasting love” (Psalm 37:23, 149:4; Jeremiah 31:3).
When we’re going through extreme difficulties—things that threaten to overwhelm us—it can be natural to wonder if God cares. If God loves me, why is He letting this happen? we wonder. Or if we have unanswered prayers and are yearning to hear a good word from God, but do not, we may question His goodness toward us. I know I have. And while I have no satisfying answer to the problem of evil in the world or to unanswered prayer, I’m convinced God loves us and delights in us.
In Isaiah 49:15-16 God reveals His loving heart toward His children: “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.” The people may have felt “deserted” due to oppression (Isaiah 49:14), but He promised, “Those who trust in me will never be put to shame” (Isaiah 49:23).
When God’s love for us moves from head knowledge into the depths of our very being, it transforms us. Knowing God’s character and that we’re His beloved sons and daughters elicits trust from us even during the darkest of nights.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 11:19-29
More:
Reflect on Psalm 23:6. What does it tell you about God’s love and goodness?
Next:
Do you know deep down that God loves you dearly? How will you revel in happiness as you consider this truth today?
ng on October 26, 2016 at 5:49 am
Thanks Marlena for today’s devotion. I have been going through these questions recently.
Marlena Graves on October 26, 2016 at 8:23 am
I am so sorry. It’s so hard when there is no satisfying answer to evil in this life. But, the more I walk with God and think about my own children and other people I love, I am convinced that God does look happy at us. We are the apple of his eye.
godlove on October 26, 2016 at 6:39 am
Very beautiful devotional, thank you Marlena. I couldn’t resist smiling at the nice chat you had with your cute little daughter. I always marvel at the LORD’s declaration of the magnitude of His love in Isaiah 49:15. Beyond quoting Scriptural references, I have had more than enough evidence in my life, clearly proving to me that God undoubtedly loves me, and that He loves me way more than I deserve! Knowing this truth keeps me from worrying or stressing over the troubles of this journey because I live always with the confidence that God loves me. Regardless of circumstances, I always give thanks to the Lord, for I know that His great and faithful love lasts forever (Psalm 136:34). Blessed day to everyone, with love.
godlove on October 26, 2016 at 6:41 am
Sorry, that should be Psalm 136:1
Marlena Graves on October 26, 2016 at 8:26 am
What a blessing for that assurance. I loved my daughter’s phrase, “God looks happy at you.” I will treasure it because it reminded me of the truth I wrote about above. I am grateful too that you know of God’s love. It is a blessing and I pray that those who struggle would know the deep love of God for them. Blessings to you this day!
Gary Shultz on October 26, 2016 at 7:07 am
Marlena, how wise you are to share and plant in your daughters souls a love for God by showing them how much He loves them. If there was one great thing I lacked in being a father it was teaching belief, with love of course, over behavior. In “the day” most training was just corporal, just get children to behave. What a mistake! We had boys and the main thrust was behave. The larger thrust should have been, “beloved”, believe. To teach them of what you have written. When God’s love for us moves from head knowledge into the depths of our very being, it transforms us. Knowing God’s character and that we’re His beloved sons and daughters elicits trust from us even during the darkest of nights. The biggest investment needs to be done here, the loving heart will “true” the behavior. Thanks Marlena
Marlena Graves on October 26, 2016 at 8:28 am
I am sorry Gary. I know you were doing the best you could. I am grateful for the love and wisdom you show to all of us here and to new readers who should happen upon the site. We are a community! I especially appreciate this gem you shared: “The biggest investment needs to be done here, the loving heart will “true” the behavior.” I will contemplate “truing the behavior.”
gagirllive on October 26, 2016 at 7:18 am
Marlena, what a precious moment with your little girl. And it’s good that you now have a written record of it. Believe me—some of those sweet memories fade with the passing of time. Thankfully, not so with our God. Isaiah 49: 16 has been such a solace to me over the years. Knowing that I am never forgotten by God—that my name is even tattooed on the palms of His hands—is such an affirmation of His love for me. Of course, the greatest demonstration is always going to be the sacrifice that Christ made for me on the cross. Looking back at times of doubt and insecurity, I realize that it is not God who has forgotten me. It’s that I have temporarily forgotten Him. I have forgotten who He is and what He did to secure me—how His love for me compelled Him to come to my rescue. “For while we were still powerless to help ourselves, at the fitting time Christ died for us, the ungodly.” (Romans 5: 6) Living in light of that gospel truth brings me back to the right perspective that His heart is always good toward me, no matter how I feel or what things look like. He has already given me His very best. “He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Romans 8: 32) So back to the cross I cling. Yes, God looks happy at us “in Christ”. That’s kind of a hard concept even for us adults to embrace, but your three year old’s response conveyed that she got it when she said, “Then I look happy at Jesus and… [the rest of the family]”. She was transformed by the knowledge that you had just shared with her. That reminds me of the apostle John who always described Himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loves”. Out of the mouth of babes your daughter conveyed this truth: When we are secure in God’s love for us, we are so transformed by it that we see ourselves as His beloved, and we reflect His love back to Him and those around us. This is certainly a progressive, ever-increasing glory I want to experience in my life. So a big thank you to your precious daughter for inspiring this beautiful devo, Marlena! Perhaps there is a budding writer in her. Like mother, like daughter? 🙂 Grace and peace to you, dear one, and to all who visit here today. ♡
Marlena Graves on October 26, 2016 at 8:36 am
Thank you so much. So many readers here, including you, and those above, write beautiful reflections. Your responses are devotionals. We Our Daily Journey and Our Daily Bread writers recently met at a conference and we just gushed and gushed about our readers. So, thank you. Yes. I truly wanted to record that moment in writing because it was so powerful for me. And I could see her twinkling, glassy, big blue eyes and big smile at the thought of God looking happy at us. She is the only blue-eyed child. My oldest daughter, when she is was two or three said that the sunbeams we see going down to the earth are slides from heaven (the slides at a park).
Your testimony about forgetting God but knowing you are not forgotten is something. You got it: his heart is always good towards you. It can be hard to believe when circumstances are blood-curdling painful–but then we hear about the testimonies of martyrs who continued to believe in God and in his love for us up to the point of death and through torture. The same is true for those who have been persecuted and tortured for the sake of Christ and have stood firm. Thank you for the encouragement today!
hsnpoor on October 26, 2016 at 8:03 pm
Oh, GG, how I needed to be reminded of what you said here. I’ve been MIA for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is my plate is full to overflowing and I just have not had time to keep up with these daily devotionals, which have been an integral part of my life for nigh onto 3-years now (ODB first and just recently ODJ). I had time to check in today and Marlena’s devotional today was just delightful and your comment really spoke to me (as you usually do). I’ve been in a “Faith vs. Fear” battle for a couple of weeks now. Faith has definitely become the victor and, had I been in battle with my ODJ/ODB armor on, I’m sure the victory would have come sooner. But, when all is said and done, I’m thankful and gratified all over to have experiential knowledge that this battle is not mine, it belongs to the Lord and that God has not forgotten me (NEVER!), but, rather it is I who lost track of Him. I LOVE the Lord who never wastes one iota of our pain, suffering and doubt and is able to do everything He promises, like taking our mess & taking us by the hand and showing us the way out of the mess, not just our benefit, but also for that of others, in ways that we can’t even think or imagine until He opens the eyes of our heart & spirit! Amazing love, how can it be?
Marlena Graves on October 26, 2016 at 9:12 pm
hsnpoor, I will pray for you tonight. You are not alone; we your brothers and sisters run the race and fight the fight alongside you. Blessings!
hsnpoor on October 27, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Thank you, Marlena!
gagirllive on October 26, 2016 at 10:26 pm
Hi, Kim! Good to find you here! I trust that Jehovah Sabaoth—the LORD of Hosts, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—will continue to go before you and slay all your fears and fight all your enemies, dear sister. He has not brought you this far to leave you now. You are certainly not forgotten by the Lord, but neither are you forgotten by your ODB/ODJ family…whether you post or not. 🙂 You are in our hearts. Be encouraged, my friend. Love & prayers!
hsnpoor on October 27, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Thank you, GG! We don’t know how much we miss until it’s not there anymore and your steady, wonderful wisdom not being a daily portion of my life has definitely left an empty space.
abrahamallan on October 26, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Hello,
Thank you for this wonderful write up. Though I was born in a Christian family, only recently did I truly give my whole self to my Father in Heaven. And it has been such a beautiful journey with Him. Such great love, so difficult to explain. I have a little girl and I can’t wait to tell her about His love. His incredible and furious love for us.
God bless you and your family. May He use you for His Kingdom. May His Name be glorified all the time.
Marlena Graves on October 26, 2016 at 9:13 pm
So thankful that you surrendered all to our Father. ‘Incredible’ and ‘furious’ love are beautiful descriptors. Blessings to you now.
sim jing ying on October 26, 2016 at 4:04 pm
Yes, I do know God loves me deeply and I can revel happiness in His love.
Marlena Graves on October 26, 2016 at 9:14 pm
Amen!