Have you ever watched a child learn how to walk? {Oh, it’s just delicious.} You know, watching a baby put the toddle back in toddler? I have–four times now. First, as a child myself, my older brother and I cheered and laughed our much-younger brother on to walking victory. I still remember how he looked, and how I felt. We were all a bit giddy, and {OH!} how we laughed. Now, with my husband, I’ve watched and cheered and relished and celebrated each of my own children on to success.

There’s something amazing and wonderful about watching a child learn to walk. There’s something meaningful there, too. More meaningful, I mean, than simply passing from crawler to walker.

But how many times have you seen someone scold a child for falling down while learning to walk? You know, yell something really inspiring like, “Get up, you slacker!” or “Gah! You’ve had those legs for a year now! Can’t you get this right?!”

Yeah, I didn’t think so. 🙂

In fact, you’ve probably heard or said just the opposite. Cheers and jubilation and commendations for even the fewest of teetering steps. And when she falls, a flood of cheers for how far she’s come, a flurry of encouragement to keep trying. There’s a sort of transfer that happens between the cheerer and the toddler, don’t you think? Because–oh–the precious one! Positively buoyed up by the praise!

.   .   .

{but pssst, did you know}

God does that.

Remember in Nehemiah 8:10? “Then [Nehemiah] said to them, ‘Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’”

The JOY of the LORD is your STRENGTH.

His joy is your strength.

HIS joy = YOUR strength.

{Your strength is not something you have to muster up; it’s a natural response to the Lord absolutely celebrating over you as you learn to walk.}

.   .   .

And Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

He delights in you.

He rejoices over you.

.   .   .

So whether you are learning to walk for the first time,

(or perhaps teetering on that next step?)

please remember the picture of that toddler toddling

and moreover

of your Father God who is cheering you on.

Let Him buoy you up.