The Smile of God

In his book, Now I Become Myself, Ken Shigematsu shares something a friend wrote to him:

“The image that came to me for you was one of God celebrating over you, in the sense not only that God loves you, but that he also LIKES you. He likes your walk, the way you talk, your sense of humor—even the things you feel are just odd or quirky—maybe even something you are wishing you could change about yourself, God likes” (ch. 4).

Later in the book he comments that when we notice something beautiful, “remember this is a small glimpse of what God feels when he sees you” (ch. 9), and “God is the author of pleasure, and so God delights in our delight” (ch. 10).

The idea of God’s delight has captured my attention this week. I can often take myself (and everyone else) too seriously. I sometimes struggle to laugh with others (perhaps because I don’t understand their humor). So then to think of God enjoying His children challenges my perspective.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). He has given us many good things to enjoy, so why wouldn’t He be glad, and indeed glorified, when we do in fact enjoy them? But He’s not just an artist who is glad to be recognized, He’s also our Father. Having never had children of my own, I don’t know this for sure, but it seems to me that there’s not much better than a laughing baby or child. There is abundant evidence on social media that we enjoy their enjoyment.

I’ve been looking for ways to apply this in my own life, primarily by thinking about the things I enjoy and remembering that God notices and smiles along with me. In my case that includes things like trying to name the colors in a sunset; seeing where my prisms create rainbows on the walls; talking to the critters I find in my yard (from beetles to box turtles and black snakes); and even learning curious word derivations.

As a side note, I’m trying to relearn biblical Greek by reading an interlinear Bible, and a few times I’ve laughed at words Matthew chose for his gospel. I don’t recall ever laughing at Scripture before, and I think God laughs along. I was just reminded of the story Mike Yaconelli wrote in Dangerous Wonder about Jesus joining in a mud fight with His disciples. I’m sure he would agree that Christians can sometimes be too serious and “proper” about their faith.

If the father of the prodigal son in Luke 15 did everything improper—running to meet him, embracing and clothing him, and throwing a party to welcome the rebel back—what does that tell us about our heavenly Father? He gladly welcomes not just repentant sinners, but each of His distracted, depressed, and downtrodden children. He lifts our chins, reminds us to look at all the good things He has provided, and invites us to join in the party He is hosting for us.

Ironically (and providentially), I started reading Now I Become Myself not long after I had been thinking about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 and pondering why joy seems harder to manifest than the other descriptors (but keeping in mind that none of it is the fruit of human effort). And although I’ve often tried to parse out the difference between joy and happiness, I wonder if perhaps the main difference is whether it points us to God. Shigematsu notes,

“Any practice that makes us come alive over time, even if it is not overtly religious, is a spiritual practice. Whenever we experience the pleasure of play, we are given a window into God’s abounding pleasure in us. If you feel joyful pleasure in a frivolous and unnecessary luxury, remember that joy is God’s invention and intention for us. God calls us to a life of joy” (ch. 10).

I believe God gives us many glimpses of joy through His creation, His people, and His Word. If we will take the time to look up from our screens, to notice God’s goodness and give thanks, it will help to brighten each day.

“You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

No Other

“He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge…” (Psalm 144:2 ESV).

Lord, I confess that I often forget that You are my steadfast love.

No human can give the kind of love I want and need.

No one else is always available.

No one else knows my thoughts before I think them

And my words before I speak them.

No one else always has my best interests at heart.

No one else is perfectly wise in heart and mighty in strength.

No one else can work all things for my eternal good.

No one else collects all my tears in a bottle

And knows the reason for each one.

No one else always cares for my soul.

No one else sticks closer than a brother.

No one else fulfills every promise.

No one else speaks words of comfort to my soul

And gives me songs in the night.

No one else has engraved me on the palms of his hands.

No one else can guide me with perfect wisdom.

No one else is my rock and my salvation.

No one else will carry my close to his heart

            And gently lead me to green pastures and still waters.

Lord, forgive me for expecting people to be and do what only You can.

“Know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39).

© 2020 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.

He Knows My Name

Last week I went to the library and picked up a few Christian books that at first glance seemed to be unrelated. But as I’ve gotten into them I’ve found several similarities. Two of them, Mourning into Dancing, by Walter Wangerin, and To Be Told, by Dan Allender, talk particularly about the names we are given. Allender states:

“Today it is rare that parents first study a child in order to give the child a name that fits. Far more often we pick a family name, or we choose a name that sounds good and has a meaning that we like. The Hebrew process of naming was exactly the opposite. A name was chosen that reflected the unique calling and character of the child. It is for this reason that many Bible characters were renamed later in life... Each change in name points to a day when we will receive an entirely new name. The Bible tells us that those who seek God will one day be given a new name: ‘Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ When I stand before God, I will be given a new name in a moment of tender, inconceivable intimacy” (29-30 quoting Revelation 2:17).

He also reminds us that we’re living in-between times. “We are between two names. We know our name; we don’t know what our new name will be... [E]very one of us human beings experiences the tension between who we are and who we will one day become.”

Like many kids, I went through a time when I didn’t like my given name and wished I could choose a different one. Mostly what I didn’t like were the derogatory names given to me by the school bullies. One classmate threatened to hurt me when she found out that we not only had the same initials but the same middle name—Christine. (Why she blamed me for that I’ll never know!) While waiting in the graduation line at college (arranged alphabetically), I was amused to learn that two of my friends standing beside me and I would have all had the same first name if we’d been boys.

These days I’m okay with the name I was given. It has family significance as well as spiritual meaning. But I do wonder what name God has for me. I’ve occasionally thought that God renames us multiple times throughout our lives depending on what we’re going through and how God reveals Himself to us. After all, God is known by multiple names throughout Scripture, so why shouldn’t we have multiple names? I can tell you some of the names He’s given me in the past: Grace, Beloved, Daughter, Faithful, Enduring.

The other day at the gas station I overheard a heated discussion between a couple men. One emphasized his point by using the other person’s name, but I got the feeling he would have rather called him “Idiot.” It reminded me of times when even a term of endearment such as “Honey” is spoken with such a tone as to convey a much different meaning. Those kinds of names don’t make you feel loved, appreciated, or special.

Jesus said, “The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). There’s a frequently circulated email of quotes from kids about love. One says, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.” We know that our names are safe with God. He always speaks our names with love, even if we are in need of correction. He doesn’t use them in a derogatory manner. His voice breaks the power of the names the world heaps on us, along with the names we put on ourselves: failure, broken, mistake, unwanted, forgotten. He calls us by name when no one else knows who we are.

God spoke through Isaiah, “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands” (49:16a). If I were ever to get a tattoo (which is not on my bucket list), it would be something that reminded me of who God is and who I am to him. More than anything else, that is a reminder I need to see every day. God doesn’t need the reminder, but He always has us in His sight and in His hand.

“The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but shall be called My Delight Is in Her...” -Isaiah 62:2-4

Formed on Purpose

The other night I read Isaiah 64:8 (ESV): “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our Potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” Thinking about that in the context of my life, I wrote: There is so much I would do differently if I were the one writing my life story, but I realize that any such creation would no longer be “me.” Change even a few small circumstances or events and this would be someone else’s life.

A couple nights later I read Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you...” There are no accidents or unknowns to God. He didn’t just know that I would exist in this time and place. He knew me as He created me to be, with all the quirks, struggles, desires, and life changes that make me who I am today and who I will be in the future.

Big Daddy Weave has an album that I recently downloaded and just now noticed the lyrics to one of the songs, which you can read here: http://www.bigdaddyweave.com/songs/different-light Or listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1prllO7kYsQ&feature=kp

They say it well. Although the events of our past are often things we’d like to erase or forget, they do serve to remind us of what God has done and is doing in our lives. I’m beginning to realize that every day is indeed a new day and a new opportunity for God to show His grace and mercy. Each day we can say, “That’s not who I am anymore,” because we are constantly changing, even though the process may seem too long and slow.

Philippians 3 is one of my favorite chapters of Scripture. In verses 13-14 Paul says, “...one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” No matter whether the memories of the past are good, bad, or indifferent, they are only memories. Give them to God to be covered by His grace, and keep moving forward. I know that is often easier said than done, but may we learn to look back with new eyes to see what God has done and to understand our stories more clearly.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).