Have you ever thrown a birthday party for someone you love? You spend days planning. The cake, the gifts, the guest list. You run all over town, blow up balloons until you’re out of breath, and clean the house until it shines. And when the moment comes and you see the smile on their face, you feel that warm rush of satisfaction. “It was worth it,” you think. It’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?

Doing things for God can feel a lot like that. Teaching Sunday school, helping at the soup kitchen, singing in the choir… all of it gives our soul a little pat on the back. We feel like we’re contributing, that we’re useful in our Father’s house. And that’s a good thing.

I learned this lesson in a way I’ll never forget. Back in the late ’90s, I was directing a Christian camp for five and six-year-olds. These were three-day camps, packed with activities designed to help the kids meet Jesus. From the very first day, one five-year-old girl stood out because of her inexhaustible energy. Her name was Karen. Nothing tired her out, and her poor counselor had run out of ideas to keep her occupied. So, I offered to help and ended up spending a lot of time with Karen over those three days. By the third day, I was exhausted, too.

When it was time for the final lunch, I headed to the dining hall about 20 minutes early, just hoping to get a little rest. As I sat at the entrance waiting for the doors to open, I saw a smiling face running toward me. It was Karen, again. I thought to myself, “Okay, so much for my 20 minutes of rest.”

But what happened next taught me a lesson for a lifetime.

When Karen reached me, I asked if she wanted to go to the swings (they were her favorite). She said no. Then I asked if she wanted to go to the sports courts, and she said no again. I suggested the little hiking trail in the woods, and she answered with a smile and another firm no.

Finally, I asked her what she wanted to do. With her characteristic joy and firmness, she replied, “Nothing! I just want to be here with you.” Right after that, she climbed onto my lap and rested her head on my chest.

In that moment, a thought hit me like a ton of bricks: How many times have I started doing so many things FOR God without even asking Him, filling my life with activities, and not taking the time to hear His voice telling me, “Right now, don’t do anything. What I want is to just be with you.”

That little girl, in her simple desire for presence over activity, showed me the heart of the Father.

That’s the difference between satisfaction and delight. We see it in the Bible, too. Martha was the queen of satisfaction. Her house was spotless, the food was on the table. She was doing everything for Jesus. And she was stressed, frustrated, and worn out. Her sister, Mary, chose something different. She sat at Jesus’ feet and just listened. She didn’t lift a finger to help. She simply soaked in His presence. She wasn’t looking for satisfaction. She found delight.

God doesn’t just want us to be his employees of the month. He wants to be our best friend. Satisfaction comes from the gifts we give Him. Delight comes from gazing at His face. Satisfaction is temporary; it depends on whether the “event” went well. Delight is eternal, because He is always there, waiting for us to just be with Him.

Service that isn’t born from delight can become a heavy burden. But service that overflows from a heart that has been with Jesus… ah, that’s different. It’s no longer a “have to,” but a “get to.” It’s not a job; it’s a dance.

So the next time you feel the pressure to “do more” for God, take a deep breath. Remember Karen. Maybe He isn’t asking you to run to the swings. Maybe He’s just inviting you to sit with Him for a while, when everyone else has gone home, and simply be together.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. – Psalm 16:11 (ESV)