It is easy to feel bad or prideful about loving what we do. For some reason, I have had the mentality I shouldn’t be happy if I am doing something good for God. I think I confused that with the necessary level of discomfort we should feel, to remind us to lean on Him. While in our weakness, He is strong, we shouldn’t confuse discomfort for not enjoying life. God delights in us! We make Him happy! I believe we should be happy in Him as well; this reflects Him!
Take a look at some Bible verses that show God finds delight in us:
“But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” Psalm 16:3
“They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.” Proverbs 11:20
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.” Proverbs 15:8
“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24
As we read through these, we see that God takes delight in us when we take delight in Him! I find myself questioning at times, why did He make us? As I ponder this, I am growing more aware that He created us because He takes pleasure in us. We make Him happy. He loves us, He calls us to Him, and when we answer that call, fear Him, and love Him–we make Him so happy! We delight Him the most when we are delighting in Him. That means loving Him with our whole heart and worshiping Him. I too often over complicate this beautiful, simple, but profound truth. I find myself trying to make Him happy. But in the process I wear myself out and leak happiness like a quickly deflating balloon.
Everything around us is given to us by God. We don’t earn it by our works. When I freely accept the gift that I make God happy by simply delighting in Him, my heart is free to receive all the gifts He has given me with joy. Out of my great love and delight in God, my whole life transforms into a living sacrifice–an act of worship. In this I can and should be happy! Obviously there are hard things that can sway our feelings, but the point is, it is not a bad thing to be happy. I believe since God finds delight in us, we should find delight in the gifts, talents, and blessings He has richly given us!
It doesn’t matter what situation we are in–we can find delight and happiness in God. Paul says he has found contentment in both much and little. In America, we have an abundance of material comforts and opportunities that can easily bring happiness. But what about all the people who don’t have as much as we do? Who don’t have the freedoms and opportunities that we do? There’s two extremes: Either we begin to feel guilty over delighting in the things that God has given us, or we can begin to find our delight and happiness in only material blessings and forget that in God there is always delight to be found. So what are somethings we can ALWAYS find delight in (no matter what part of the world we are in)? That He always showers on us?
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:1 See also: Psalm 119:16. 119:24 (many verses in Psalm 119)
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4
“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Psalm 37:11
“I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8
“In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19
Proverbs 8-God delights in wisdom, we have access to His wisdom.
“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” Proverbs 29:17
“Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.” Isaiah 58:2
“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:” Romans 7:22
“O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” Psalm 104:24
God Himself is given to each one of us as His children. In Him is true delight and happiness. His Word, His wisdom, His comfort, His creation! No matter where we are or what circumstances we find ourselves in; we can find delight in what we are doing because God is all around us. We simply need eyes to see Him and His beauty. Satan wants us to focus on all we don’t have so that we miss all we do have.
We can truly make a joyful noise to the Lord in all we do because we have been given the gift of His delight and happiness in Him. The more we press into delighting in Him, the more we will realize how amazing He truly is. The more we realize how amazing He is, the more He opens our eyes to the beauty all around us. The more our eyes are opened to the beauty all around us the happier I believe we become. Oh sweet sister, delight in Him. Sure discomforts will come, but happiness can always be ours because He is happy about us!
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