Captivating Smile

I'm typically not captivated by a smile that contains very few teeth; however, in the case of my youngest daughter, Sophie, my heart melts every time I see it.  As most parents have experienced, babies usually smile when they are smiled at. When I flash Sophie a big smile, her response is usually to give me an even bigger smile. It’s a game that I can play for hours.

As I’ve drawn near to God, I’ve discovered that he smiles more than I ever imagined.  He is more delighted in me than I am in Sophie, and he’s more delighted in you than you have ever been with your children or anyone else. He is the perfect Father, and when he smiles at us, it’s nearly impossible not to smile in return.

I went through a season a while ago where I was stressed out, burdened, and downcast. It was not a fun place to be, but God taught me something valuable that has made a big impact on my life. When we face challenges and when we feel downcast, it’s easy to fix our attention on the things that are causing distress. We don’t have to work hard to be reminded of the things that are a source of stress—they seem to be more than willing to parade themselves before us on a moment to moment basis. The result of dwelling on the negatives and challenges is a feeling that we’re all probably familiar with. There is a better way to live, and the Scriptures give us insight into how to get different results.


Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance. (Psalm 42:5 NKJV)

The author of this psalm is intentionally choosing to praise God in the midst of troubling circumstances. Read the last portion of the verse again. Did you see it? The very countenance of God is a source of help. Now let’s look at verse 11 of the same chapter:

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11 NKJV)

God’s countenance is designed to change our countenance. The smile on his face creates a smile on ours. In the same way that my smile is reflected to me on Sophie’s face, God’s countenance is contagious and will soon appear upon us.
  

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”’ (Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV)

I like it.