How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.

~ Psalm 36:7-9

A River of Delights

Lent is often a season marked by reflection and repentance. We slow down. We pray. We take an honest look at ourselves and our relationship with God. It is a meaningful and important rhythm in the life of the church.

But in the middle of this season, Psalm 36 offers us a surprising word: delight.

The psalmist writes that God’s people “feast on the abundance of your house” and that God gives them drink “from the river of your delights.” That is a beautiful image, a river flowing with goodness, joy, and abundance.

One of the gifts of serving with the children and youth of Saint John’s is that I get to witness delight regularly. Children do not hold their joy back. When something is exciting, funny, or surprising, they respond with their whole selves. There is laughter that fills the room, wide-eyed wonder during a Bible story, and the kind of curiosity that leads to the most thoughtful questions.

Children don’t sip cautiously from the river of delight. They jump in.

Sometimes as adults we forget how to do that. Life is busy. Responsibilities pile up. Lent can even make us feel like faith is mostly about what we need to fix or change.

But Psalm 36 reminds us that God’s love is not scarce. God’s love is abundant. God invites us not just to endure our faith, but to delight in it , to notice goodness, beauty, and moments of joy that remind us of God’s presence.

Perhaps one of the ways God teaches us this is through the children in our midst. Their laughter, curiosity, and openness remind us that faith is not only about seriousness and discipline. It is also about wonder. It is about joy. It is about trusting that God’s goodness flows freely, like a river.

As we continue through this season of Lent, I invite you to pay attention to moments of delight. Notice the small things that bring joy. Listen for laughter. Look for signs of God’s goodness around you.

And maybe, just maybe, let the children lead the way.