I’m proud of you! 

Those are words we all long to hear aren’t they? 

It’s actually one of the earliest stages of development in a child. As they learn they are safe and cared for, they begin to look for approval from those around them. They long to find approval in the eye of those closest to them. 

I’m no different. 

I want to be liked. 

I long for people to think highly of me. 

I want others to say good things about me and want to be around me. 

It’s just part of life. 

But the hard part is, sometimes I can’t even be proud of myself. I know my thoughts. I know what I’ve done in life. I know how deceptively evil - and selfish - my heart can be at times. 

No, those aren’t the parts we admit to others. 

We don’t want people to think less of us. After all, we want approval! 

What if God has a way of looking at us with complete approval. In fact, what if God has a way of looking at you and me, in the middle of our mess and chaos, and still says - Very Good!