Joy can be such a fickle friend, can’t it? One moment it fills us to brimming; the next, it seems as distant as a forgotten dream. On this third day, we delve into a deep well of joy—one that doesn’t run dry or slip away with the changing winds. “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17 CJB).

There’s something wonderfully human about the idea of God rejoicing over us with singing. It’s a picture of divine joy that’s vibrant, alive—a joy that doesn’t just sit there, quiet and contained, but one that bursts forth in song. The original Hebrew carries this sense of movement, of energy. God is not static; His love for us is dynamic, celebratory.

Imagine that. The Creator of all, taking delight in you, in me—in us. It’s like a father beaming with pride at his child’s first steps, or a mother’s tender lullaby that soothes the fears away. This joy is not dependent on our circumstances or achievements; it’s rooted in something eternal, unshakeable.

But let’s be real—grasping this joy isn’t always easy. We face valleys and shadows, moments when joy seems like a stranger. I’ve been there, felt that ache of absence. Yet, it’s in those very moments, in the grip of our struggles, that Zephaniah’s words can be a lifeline, reminding us that we’re never alone, never without a reason for joy.

God’s love is the kind that sees all our broken pieces, our flaws, our failures—and chooses us still. It doesn’t ignore our pain but meets us in it, transforming our mourning into a dance, our silence into song. This is the joy that doesn’t just visit; it makes its home with us, in us.

So today, amidst the ebb and flow of life, may you find that unyielding joy. May you hear the echo of God’s song over you, a melody that doesn’t fade. And in the quiet or the chaos, may you know—you are delighted in, sung over, held close in the unfailing joy of God’s love.