In a society preoccupied with competition and comparison, it’s difficult to remember our inherent value. Yet our worth doesn’t swing on the pendulum of success. Instead, we are made in God’s image and bought by Christ’s blood. Our identity is rooted in God and what He says of us. He doesn’t grade our performance. His grace looks beyond our efforts, failures, as well as successes. God’s delight in us is anchored not in what we do but in who we are as His children. The God of the universe delights in us.
King David reflected on God’s delight when he was rescued from his enemies. We hear David’s response in Psalm 18:16-19:
“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
Notice in David’s words how many times God acted:
He reached down from on high and took hold of me
He drew me out of deep waters
He rescued me from my powerful enemy
He brought me out into a spacious place
He rescued me
And finally, in verse 19, we see God’s reason for interceding and acting on David’s behalf: “because He delighted in me.”
When hardships surround you, remember God’s faithfulness in King David’s story. Reflect on God’s loyalty in your past. His protection and provisions do not hinge on our hustling. We cannot earn His attention or devotion. Instead, His actions in our lives correlate to His unchanging character—tied to who He is and who we are as His beloved children.
2 Timothy 2:13 says “If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.” In His grace, God will lovingly correct us when we go astray. We can see that in King David’s life. But His delight in us is the love of a perfect heavenly Father taking joy in His children. We do not need to perform to earn it but rather receive it in joy. He cannot be more pleased with who we are. He wants to be around us. He is present and active in our lives, protecting and providing for us not because of our merit but His great love.
Following King David’s words in verses 16-19, we read his confident statement in verse 20, “The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me.” Without the context of the rest of the passage, or in light of Scripture as a whole, this verse might seem to place David’s behavior on center stage. However, David goes on to talk about God’s mercy, salvation, perfection, protection, provision, and deliverance. The passage is clear — and it seems plain in David’s mind — that God is the centering force. His divine intervention leads to any progress in David’s life.
Likewise, when we’re frustrated by failure or lack of progress, we can remember that God’s acceptance and delight are rooted in Christ’s righteousness, which has become our own:
“It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” 1 Corinthians 1:30
“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
“Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Romans 10:4
God accepts us and delights in us — not because of our acts but because of Christ’s work on the cross. While He leads us in His plans and purposes and gives us meaningful work, our worth is never tied to that work. Instead, we can joyfully follow His lead while resting securely in His love and delight.
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© 2023 BreakAway Music. All Rights Reserved
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
Copyright | Site Credit