Last summer brought a moment of profound joy as a mother. My son, Mark, married a wonderful, God-loving young woman. Our whole family was involved in the wedding; my husband officiated, Mark’s twin was the best man, and my other sons were groomsmen. My role? To watch with tears of happiness and pride, and then to cherish the mother-son dance. When Mark asked about the song, I immediately knew: “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack.
Among my four sons, Mark and I share the most similar personalities – adventurous yet thoughtful, capable, and composed. As we moved to the music, I told him how much I loved him and how deeply I wished for him to live life to the fullest as a child of God. The lyrics resonated deeply with my hopes for him, and for all of us: “I hope you never lose your sense of wonder… never fear the mountains in the distance… When you get the chance to sit it out or dance… dance.” As his mother, my deepest wish is for my son to experience the freedom of living exactly as God intended – loved, forgiven, chosen, redeemed, blessed, and holy.
This love, these hopes, and these dreams I hold for my children are universal to parenthood. If we, as imperfect humans, can have such profound longings for our children, how much more does our perfect, holy Heavenly Father desire this for us?
Take a moment to slowly read through Ephesians 1:3-14, paying attention to the words God uses to describe YOU, His precious child. Which words stand out? Do you truly grasp God’s immense love, His boundless grace, and the incredible fact that He chose YOU? Do you live as though you believe it?
Verses 11 and 12 from The Message paraphrase this beautifully: “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”
The powerful phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” appears eight times in these short verses. We are designed to live freely in Christ as God’s chosen—it’s our very purpose! What an amazing truth to embrace!
This week, choose just one word from this passage to meditate on. Ask God to help you truly believe this truth and to live in its reality. He hopes you dance!
The Mother’s Heart: Wishing for a Dance of Life
Every parent holds dreams for their children, aspirations that often echo the sentiments of Lee Ann Womack’s heartfelt song, “And I Hope You Dance”. It’s a wish for a life lived fully, embracing both joy and challenges with grace and courage. Just as I wished this for my son Mark on his wedding day, dancing to that meaningful song, this desire reflects a deeper, more profound longing. It’s a desire to see those we love step into the rhythm of life with open hearts and unwavering spirits.
God’s Deeper Hope: “And I Hope You Dance” in Your Spiritual Journey
But this parental hope, as powerful as it is, is just a glimpse of an even greater desire – God’s desire for us. He doesn’t just hope we navigate life successfully; He hopes we truly dance in the fullness of the life He has given us. This dance is not just about worldly achievements, but about embracing the spiritual freedom and joy that comes from knowing we are deeply loved and chosen by Him.
Reflecting on Ephesians 1:3-14 reveals the depth of this divine hope. The repeated phrase “in Christ” emphasizes that our identity and purpose are found in Him. We are blessed, chosen, holy, and redeemed – all because of His immeasurable grace. These aren’t just words on a page; they are declarations of our worth and potential in God’s eyes.
Living Freely: Embracing the Dance God Intended
God’s hope for us is not passive; it’s an active invitation to live in the freedom He has secured for us. Just as the song “and i hope you dance” encourages us to seize opportunities and embrace life’s journey, God encourages us to step into the dance of faith. This means believing in the truths of Ephesians, internalizing them, and allowing them to shape how we live each day.
Choosing to focus on even one word from Ephesians 1:3-14 – perhaps “chosen,” “blessed,” or “redeemed” – and meditating on its meaning can be transformative. It’s about asking God to reveal the reality of these truths in our lives and then living in accordance with them. God’s deepest desire is that we experience the glorious living designed for us, that we embrace our identity in Christ, and that we truly dance in the freedom and joy of His love. He hopes you dance – will you?
