Do You Make God Smile

Do You Make God Smile?

I have been blessed with five beautiful grandchildren. The crazy part is that four of them are ages 2 and under! I could film a hilarious reality tv show when they are all at my house for a visit at the same time! I have learned to embrace the pandemonium and laugh at the antics that unfold in my den while they are playing together.

My newest grandbaby Evan is currently 8 months old. He is the happiest boy! I call him Mr. Smiley because every time I see him, he breaks out into a huge grin that melts my heart! There is no way I can look at that happy little smiling face and not smile back.

As I was thinking about how happy I feel when I see Evan’s sappy grin, I started thinking…

I believe God smiles back at us sometimes, too.

The priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26 contains the phrase, “The Lord make his face to shine upon you.” I imagine the glory of the Lord would be so brilliant that it would shine brighter than anything we’ve ever seen. But when I think about a face shining, I also think about a beaming smile.

The Bible talks a lot about being joyful. When we are smiling and overflowing with joy, I think it makes God smile back, kind of in the same way I smile back at Evan when I see his joy.

God created beauty and gives us good gifts because He loves to bring joy to us. I love the way Randy Alcorn describes it in his book Heaven. He says, “God isn’t displeased when we enjoy a good meal, marital sex, a football game, a cozy fire, or a good book. He’s not up in heaven frowning at us and saying, “Stop it—you should only find joy in me.” This would be as foreign to God’s nature as our heavenly Father as it would be to mine as an earthly father if I gave my daughters a Christmas gift and started pouting because they enjoyed it too much. No, I gave the gift to bring joy to them and to me…I am delighted that they enjoy the gift.”

God is delighted when we are delighted in His good gifts. It kind of makes me delighted even now to think about it! When I think of how much I enjoy watching Evan giggle over his dancing cactus, enjoying my gift to him, I love the thought that God enjoys my delight at the tree-lined trails I love so much, or the mountains, beach, and other beautiful things He’s created for me to enjoy.

Some research even shows that smiling can lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone), which may strengthen our immune system. It can also release neurotransmitters that contribute to a sense of peace and well-being. God designed our bodies to function that way. And it leads right up to the last part of that priestly blessing.

The last part of that priestly blessing says, “The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

I can’t think of a better way to have peace than smiling, knowing God is smiling at me, too.

The next time you are enjoying some of God’s good gifts, thank Him for them, knowing your delight in them brings Him delight. May He give you peace!