“The Lord make his face shine (smile) upon you and be gracious to you;” —Numbers 6:25

“Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’ Let the light of your face shine (smile) upon us, O Lord.” —Psalm 4:6  

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine (smile) in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the (smiling) face of Christ.” —2 Corinthians 4:6

How refreshing to know Jesus smiles.

Many I grew up with were taught by culture and experience life is hard. Faces were serious, stern. Laughter was not encouraged. Sadly this severe appearance was applied to God.

In scripture, when you see the words “face shine,” God is smiling like an accepting friend or confidant, a caregiver who comforts, a person who celebrates and encourages you as you learn truth, one who knows hope is in your future, someone who values you more than you do, a proud parent or grandparent.

I have had times when I needed to choose between medicine and food. I have experienced the dark night of diagnosed clinical depression, diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. I have been overcome by a rage without cause. I have known the unsympathetic, condemning words from broken loved ones; some echo from my past in denunciation. I have seen people who were life-giving to me die too young, too needed.

But through it all, I turn to Jesus who smiles at me, who put his smile in my heart so others can see the glory of God.

Dear Lord, thank you for smiling on and through me, for smiling in my heart, for giving your smile to others through me. Amen.

Barbara Siebelts