Shouts of Joy

                                                                  

“He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” Zechariah 3:17

“Daddy!” The little boy shouted as he ran into the arms of the soldier standing in the school auditorium.  The child did not know that his dad was coming home on leave. The surprise reunion was held during a school assembly and was broadcast on the evening news.  The boy’s shouts of joy touched the hearts of all who heard it.

How do people generally respond to good news? Smiles and words of happiness are common .  But it takes something special - like an unexpected arrival of a deployed father - to bring shouts of joy.

The Bible says that our Heavenly Father is so glad to see us that He greets us with shouts of joy.  He is never too busy. He is never annoyed that we are back again. His expression of delight doesn’t lessen no matter how many times a day we run to Him or how many times we stumble and fall. He shouts with joy whenever we come into His Presence.

How would our lives be different if we really believed this?  We would spend more time  with the One who loves us deeply.  We would quickly turn to Him with our problems.  And we would run to Him with our joys. We would completely trust this God whose love is so extravagant.

The Apostle Paul prays that he might “know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). How can we know a love that surpasses knowledge?  In the next verse, Paul  describes God as One who is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20).   

My prayer is that the God who can do all things would show me more of His love. Even though human ears cannot hear the sound, I pray that my heart would believe that He is shouting with joy as I turn towards Him.  Let’s join together in this prayer.