By: Lorraine Eastman, Legacy Pastor
It’s been a rough couple of weeks! My 94-year-old mother spent one week in the hospital. And during that time, we made the difficult decision to transition her to hospice care. She never made it to hospice, as God called her home within 24 hours.
Even in the middle of these heartbreaking decisions, God was moving, and He is so good. He orchestrated compassionate doctors and nurses in our path who guided us with honesty and care as we made those hard decisions. We can rest in Jesus’ promises that she is with him now and that, one day, we will see her again.
Have you ever walked through a difficult season that lasted a few days, a few weeks, or even longer? In those moments, it’s easy to focus on just getting through, relying on our own strength and pushing forward. Unfortunately, when we do that, we miss the comfort and strength that comes from leaning on Jesus, who invites us to drop our burdens at his feet.
Over these past few weeks, I have been holding tightly to a verse that has brought me great comfort. It reminds me of how we serve a God who isn’t distant, but walks right beside us, and who is full of love and delights in his children. It’s from the book Zephaniah, one of the minor prophets. It’s found in Zephaniah 3:17 and was written in a time of great turmoil for the Israelites.
“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” (NLT).
This verse is a beautiful declaration of God’s undying love and presence in our lives. No matter what we are facing, He is right there with us. He delights in us, he saves us, calms our fears, and even sings over us. What a comforting truth.
“The Lord your God is living among you.” The Hebrew word for “living” is “qarab,” which means “in the middle of” or “inward parts.” He’s not just around; He’s in the middle, intimately connected to us and what we are going through. When we truly embrace God’s promise of his presence, it changes how we walk through both trials and blessings.
Jesus shared with his disciples just before he ascended, “Be sure of this, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” Matthew 28:20, NLT. Jesus is right here, and that knowledge should change how we live our daily lives.
“He is a mighty savior.” In Hebrew, “mighty savior” is “gibbor yasha,” which means “a victorious warrior.” God is not passive; he is actively working, rescuing, and strengthening us. Are you relying on your own strength or trusting Jesus as our mighty savior?
“He will take delight in you with gladness.” In Hebrew, “delight” is “sws,” which means “to rejoice greatly.” God doesn’t just love us; He takes great pleasure in us. He delights in his children. When we feel we’re not enough or unworthy, we need to remember that God’s love is not bound by our performance but by His grace.
Paul writes, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” Romans 5:8, NLT. God still loves us even when we are at our worst. Do you believe that God delights in you? Rest in his perfect love — it’s a love that never waivers, never changes, and is always enough.
“With his love, he will calm all your fears.” In Hebrew, “calm” is “hrs,” which means “to keep or be silent.” Scholars argue about the meaning, but most believe that God will keep silent about our sins, forgiving and forgetting them, so we have nothing to fear. God’s love for us is so deep and so strong that it brings peace in the middle of our anxiety. It brings new meaning to the line from Psalm 23, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” He invites us to slow down, casting all our sins, troubles, and fears on Him as he covers us with His perfect peace.
“He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” The Hebrew word for “songs” is “rinnah,” which means “a ringing cry of joy.” Close your eyes and imagine God holding you in his arms and singing over you. It’s the same image of a parent singing over a child. God’s love for us is so passionate and devoted that it causes him to sing with joy over us. What an incredible image — that the God who created the universe sings over us with joy!
My prayer is that we would learn to listen for His song, a song of redemption, peace, and unending love. I encourage you to hold onto this verse. Memorize it. Return to it when you feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or alone.
If Jesus feels distant,
remember He is right there, waiting for you.
If you are struggling under the weight of troubles,
trust Jesus as your mighty savior.
If you feel unworthy, or not enough,
remember that Jesus delights in you.
If you feel anxious, or fearful of the future,
remember you can rest in Jesus’ perfect peace.
If you are discouraged, or feel forgotten,
listen, Jesus is singing over you.
Embrace Jesus’ love today. He is rejoicing and singing over you with a joyful song, for you are His!