You Are a Delight

Deanna Bartalini encourages praising God when life is heavy and turning to Scripture to refocus toward Him during the day. 

We are one month into 2026. I hope your inbox is no longer filled with all the things you need to do to have this be the best year ever where you eat enough protein, bake the best sourdough, hydrate correctly, get enough sleep, wake up to see the sunrise, and turn flax into gold. 

Take a moment to settle in and hear this beautiful reminder from Psalm 149:4, “The Lord takes delight in his people.” Say it aloud, “The Lord takes delight in his people. I am God’s person; the Lord delights in me.” He delights in you. Full stop. He does not delight in you if or when you accomplish your task list. He delights in you because you are His. He made you in his image and likeness, and you are good. 

A Bit of Background 

Psalm 149 is a psalm of praise to God. It begins, “Hallelujah! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful” (Ps 149:1). We are meant to praise and thank God for who he is: our Father, creator, faithful, merciful, and victorious over evil. 

There are many times when our personal lives feel heavy or the world full of grief. At those times it can be difficult to remember that we belong to God and He is in charge. The world is in His hands. In those moments when we want to despair over the state of our lives or the world, that is when we most need to praise Him. 

The people of Israel knew suffering, both at hands of others and their own poor decisions. I think we can say the same about ourselves; I know I can.  

So Why Praise God? 

It may seem wrong though, in some way, to praise God when we are suffering. But in those times of praising Him we are reminded of who He is and who we are too. We are reminded of all the good He has done and will continue to do for us. Praising Him gives us strength to keep moving forward.  

No matter what your prayer life looks like, try to begin each day with praising God. Thank and praise Him not because He needs to hear it but because we need to offer it. Offering God praise is an act of humility, the gentle nudge to our brain that says, “Oh, it’s not me, it’s Him.”  

This verse in particular, “For the Lord takes delight in his people,” can be one we return to when we want to succumb to fear or sadness or overwhelm. It can help us refocus on God, gain comfort and strength, and move on to the person or task in front of us feeling a bit more secure, knowing God is with us and delights in us. 

If this verse does not speak to you, I encourage you to find one that does. Write it on a few sticky notes and put them where you will see them throughout the day.  

I’d much rather have the Word in my mind, which tells me the truth, shows my beauty, and points to goodness, than have the world in my mind. When we fill our mind with God’s Word, we are less prone to believing what the world says about us. I’m going with God, every time. How about you?  

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Copyright 2026 Deanna Bartalini
Images: Canva