Surprised by God’s Love

“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

Every February, without fail, my siblings and I would walk into the kitchen to find a surprise waiting on the table. Our favorite candy, a small toy, and handwritten note in my mom’s handwriting. It was nothing big, but it made us feel so loved.

Those little baskets told us we were special, that we were her Valentines.

What I did not see as a kid was what happened the night before. My mom would wait until we were fast asleep, then sneak into the kitchen to set everything up. She didn’t rush. She didn’t throw things together. Each basket was planned, down to the tiniest detail.

I never thought about how much love went into those simple gifts, and I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to pay closer attention: to notice the way her face lit up when we squealed in excitement or how she held on while we hugged her extra tight.

In the Bible, there is this beautiful verse that says God delights in us, rejoices over us, and even sings over us. Isn’t that amazing? That is not a distant kind of love. It is personal. Intentional.

Just like my mom didn’t wait for Valentine’s Day to love us, God does not wait for special occasions to remind us that we are His.

Maybe today for you feels ordinary or even lonely. I believe God’s love is closer than you think. Look for it in the details—the kindness of a friend, the colors of the sunset, or the peace that fills your heart unexpectedly. God’s love is there, pursuing you, surprising you, and reminding you that you are deeply loved.