God Is Rejoicing

For most of us, not only does the act of moving forward look like a train wreck, but the circumstances we’re stumbling through are even worse. It’s hard to believe God is happy with you when you’re in a place that does not honor or glorify Him.

Years ago, I was in the trash dumps of Matamoros, Mexico. It’s the ugliest, most despicable environment I’ve ever witnessed. It is filled with toxic trash because the good folks of Matamoros do not flush their toilet paper.

Inside this disgusting arena of waste and hopelessness were hundreds of beautiful families with thousands of kids living in slavery to the drug cartels. They owed money, and to pay off their debt, they dug in the trash for anything of worth to pay their note.

During one truly brutal summer day, I was handing out food and water to a long line of desperate people when I saw something that changed my life forever. I saw Heaven invade Earth. I saw the face of the Father.

A group of people started to cheer and clap. “What is there to cheer about in this Hell on earth,” is what I was thinking. I turned and saw a baby boy, filthy, with no shoes or shirt, taking his first steps. His mama was maybe 16, and the ground he was stumbling across was littered and toxic, but he was standing and taking a step. What captured my attention was not the baby but his daddy. This young father was so excited he began to celebrate and applaud, and when he did, everyone else joined in.

That’s what your Daddy God does when you decide to move forward. He is pleased even if you stumble and fall. He’s proud of your effort, even in the mess of your circumstances.

God expects you to struggle and make mistakes, so if you are moving forward — even in a mess — He will celebrate your progress. He doesn’t make you clean up or get your act together before you can move. So move! Your Father is there to applaud your progress.