After my dad died earlier this year, my family went through all the pictures we had. Most of these pictures, I had not seen in 30-40 years.  I came across one of my favorite pictures, it is of me riding my tricycle with my dad running behind me. I do not remember riding the tricycle, I was only 2 or 3 years old.  What I like about the picture is the joy that is clearly on my face. What I do not like about the picture is that you do not see my father’s face, just him behind me. Growing up I always wondered what he was thinking. I did not understand it as a child, but now I do because I am a father. I do not have to see his face to know that there was just as much joy on his face as there was mine.

Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”  This is a perfect picture of a father who cares for his children. In context, the previous verses reveals that when we as the children of God seek Him and follow Him, and trust Him, that He delights in us. In fact, our heavenly father overflows with joy and He rejoices over us with loud singing.