Flags twirling. Faces sparkling. Silky skirts swirl.

Little girls keep princess dreams alive.

My little girl, now not so little, thrives in this world of twirling and swirling and sparkling. She prances, leaps and twirls. The band’s music brings life to her body; her body brings story to music.

There is a certain amount of desire for dancing in each and every one of us. When the joy sparks, when gratitude and love overflow, we cannot help but twirl and spin.

Do you know that joy? Have you experienced that deep love? The one that fills your body full and requires nothing short of movement?

One of my favorite Bible verses is Zephaniah 3:17. He writes,

Yahweh your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.

He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will bring you quietness with His love.
He will delight in you with shouts of joy.

The English context fails miserably in expressing the actual joy that God has for us. The original Hebrew word for rejoice in this verse means to dance, leap, spin around.

Take a pause.

Imagine a warrior, a hero who has returned from battle. One who has rescued you.

And now? He dances with you. He dances for you. He is filled to the brim with happiness and love, for you. Nothing can stop the excitement from flowing out of his heart and into his limbs as he moves them faster and faster, around and around.

Because He loves you, and He has come for you.

I don’t know your story. I don’t know if you feel loved or alone. I don’t know if your world believes you are special, but you feel ashamed, like an imposter. I don’t know what secrets you keep. I don’t know what shame covers you.

The prophet, Zechariah, penned these words to a people who were failing miserably. They disregarded God’s rules to live justly, to care for the oppressed, and to worship Him alone. Their nation was scarred and wounded by generations of sin. God wanted them to return to Him so badly. Their punishment was only so they would return to Him. In the midst of the words of their coming consequences, Zechariah declares that God loves them so much He is dancing over them.

My friend, this is His love for you, too. He knows the pain and the shame. He knows how you feel unworthy. Even still, His hearts pumps out love for you, pulsing through His arms to His hands, through his legs to his feet, and he dances.

Now when you see a three year old dancing and spinning, or a high schooler twirling and leaping, I hope you see much more than childhood innocence and excitement for life. I hope you remember that this rejoicing is a beautiful whisper in each of our souls of how very much we are loved, cherished, and enjoyed, even in the midst of our darkest and most shameful moments. He longs for you.