Never Stop Running

“For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, He will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”  - Zephaniah 3:17

I came home the other night from a tiring day of meetings. As I climbed the steps to my home, I was desperately trying to locate my second wind for the 16 games of hide-and- seek and the remainder of my day as “tickle monster” to my two preschoolers.  When I put my key in the lock I was reminded once again that I had not fixed the deadbolt that was worn, twisted, and out of alignment with the door jam.  I began kicking, shaking, lifting, and wiggling the door while simultaneously violently twisting the keys back and forth.  After about a minute or so the planets and stars aligned and I was able to enter my own house.  As the door was opening I began to hear what would usher in that second wind that I needed so badly.  It was the sound of my children screaming “Daddy’s hooooooome” as their little feet thundered overhead and down the stairs.  You can picture it.  Full speed.  Racing to see who would reach me first.  My son was elbowing his much faster little sister trying to get the edge.  Little sis is screaming, “He pushed me!”  With chairs tipping over and a vase crashing to the ground they hardly seemed to notice as they hit the final stretch.  On the verge of a face plant, they reach me at the same time jumping into my arms.  I drank in the moment.

It occurred to me what a picture this is of God’s children making their way to the Father.  Falling down, breaking things, some times injuring others, maybe we’re worshiping hearts just trying to get to our Abba, our heavenly Dad.  Could this be an “echo” (to reference C.S. Lewis) of the real thing between God and His little ones?  In serving my local church as a lead worshiper, I believe one of my jobs is to encourage us to remember that God the Father’s heart is for us.  When my children come running for me sometimes they fall down on the way. How do you think I respond?  I certainly don’t say, “Now go back and try again until you get it right.  Then and only then will I pick you up and spend time with you.”  Sounds absurd, doesn’t it?  For a variety of reasons this is a perspective that haunts some of us.  It’s as if we feel God wants us to figure it all out before we come to Him and trust Him with our hearts.  I just want to encourage you with this truth.  In Zephaniah 3:17 the scriptures tell us that God delights in His children.  He sings a song over us!  If you read the entire chapter you see that in the midst of His frustration with the rebellion of His children, He brings this amazing encouragement.