February 5: The Lord Rejoices Over You
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
"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."
Read The Full Devotional Below.
The Weight of Expectations
There are moments as a father when I feel like I’m failing. Being a single dad to two almost-teenagers is both a privilege and a pressure that often weighs heavier than I’d like to admit. I want to be strong for them, to guide them, to shield them from the struggles I’ve faced—but the truth is, I still battle my own demons.
And if I’m honest, there are days when I question everything. Am I enough? Am I leading them well? Am I teaching them what really matters? It’s in these quiet moments of doubt that an insidious thought creeps in: You’re an imposter. An imposter as a father. An imposter as a son. An imposter as a performer. An imposter as a Christian.
And then comes the choice.
I can either run toward the weight of these accusations, allowing them to consume me. Or—I can run to the arms of my Savior, the One who quiets my fears with His love. The One who rejoices over me, even when I struggle to rejoice in myself.
A Father Who Delights in His Children
Zephaniah 3:17 is one of the most powerful verses in Scripture about God’s love. It doesn’t just say that God loves us in some obligatory, detached way. It says He rejoices over us. He exults over us with singing. Can you picture that? The Almighty God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, singing with joy because of you?
As a father, I get glimpses of this kind of love when I watch my kids. When they’re not performing for approval, not striving, but just being. I see it when my daughter is lost in a book, unaware that I’m watching with a smile. I see it when my son laughs at his own joke, utterly free in that moment. They don’t have to earn my delight—I just love them because they’re mine.
Yet somehow, I struggle to believe God sees me the same way.
Quieted by His Love
We live in a world that demands performance. Be better. Do more. Prove your worth. And if you fall short? The voices whisper, You’re not enough. But Zephaniah 3:17 offers a radical contrast: God’s love is not transactional. He does not wait for you to be perfect before He delights in you. He is in your midst—right now—rejoicing over you, not because you’ve earned it, but because you are His.
He doesn’t just tolerate you. He delights in you.
And here’s the part that gets me: He will quiet you by His love.
Think about that. In the moments when the noise in your head is screaming that you’re not enough, when the weight of failure and self-doubt is pressing in, God steps in—not with more demands, not with shame—but with a love so deep, so complete, that it silences the accusations.
The world says, Do more and be better.
God says, Rest. You are already loved.
Running Toward, Not Away
There are always two choices. We can run toward the voices that tell us we’re not enough, drowning in the weight of our own inadequacies. Or we can run into the open arms of a Father who is singing over us, reminding us of who we truly are.
I’m learning to choose the latter.
Some days, that choice feels easy. Other days, it’s a battle. But every time I bring my insecurities to God, He meets me with the same unwavering love. The same quieting reassurance. The same reminder that I am not an imposter—I am His child.
And that is enough.
Living It Out
Take a moment today to sit in silence and picture God rejoicing over you. No striving. No performing. Just being loved.
Write down the lies you’ve believed about your worth. Then, next to each one, write a truth from Scripture that counters it.
If you’re a parent, spend time simply delighting in your kids today. No agenda—just watch them and let your love remind you of how God sees you.
You are not an imposter. You are loved, delighted in, and rejoiced over. Rest in that.
Let’s Close in a Prayer…
Father, thank You for delighting in me even when I struggle to believe I’m enough. Quiet my heart with Your love. Silence the voices of doubt and remind me that I don’t have to earn Your approval. You are in my midst, rejoicing over me. Help me to rest in that truth today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
An Invitation to go Deeper….
And friend, if today’s message stirred something in you, consider joining the FaithLabz 30-Day Prayer Challenge. Let’s dive deeper into God’s presence and let His mercy transform us from the inside out. You’re not alone in this journey—let’s walk it together.
