Feeling God's Pleasure

Did you know that God delights in you?

When someone asked Jen Hemphill that question 14 years ago, her immediate thought was no way. Hemphill was a devoted rock climber who believed her love for the sport was separate from her faith, and maybe even sinful. She'd often choose a weekend on a mountain rather than in the church pews. How, she wondered, could God delight in her?

"This point-blank question put a spotlight on my deformed view of God," Hemphill wrote recently at CT. "I began to wonder what specifically God saw when he looked at me. Maybe he considered my love of climbing good. Maybe I was called to do it for some reason."

As Hemphill explored the idea of God delighting in her and being the one to give her the love of rock climbing, she discovered a beautiful truth: God gave Hemphill rock climbing to teach her to love him.

Now, she continues to love climbing while also making more space for other things in her life, including prayer, church, and service. May we, too, find God's pleasure shining on us as we work, play, and worship.