“Watch me, dad!”

“Okay, I’m watching.”

“Dad…you didn’t watch!”
“Yes, I did. I saw you do your flip underwater.”
“No, you didn’t. When I came up, you weren’t even looking!”

I think all parents can relate to this little exchange—we know the unspoken rule that forbids parents to look away until their child’s trick is complete. It’s not enough to watch them do their little underwater somersault—we have to still be staring intently at them after they’ve come up, fixed their hair, and brushed the water out of their eyes. And then we have to compliment them. “Great job, sweetie! That was probably the BEST somersault I’ve ever seen. Thanks for allowing me to witness such a great event.” (Okay, maybe that’s taking it a little too far).

God is watching you and me, too! But He’s not watching us in the way that a traffic cop watches the flow of traffic, looking for someone who’s breaking the rules. He’s not super-spiritual law enforcement, just waiting for us to mess up. He’s a father who wants to encourage, coach, and guide His kids—He’s watching with an intensity that tells us that He’s never going to look away.

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)