DESCRIBING THE INDESCRIBABLE

The Wonder of God's Love and the Joy of Salvation

“Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9)

In 1 Peter 1:8, the word “inexpressible” means unable to be fully described, put into words, or adequately expressed.

The Greek word is aneklalētos, which literally means “unspeakable,” “indescribable,” or “beyond the power of words to tell.” Peter is saying that believers who have never seen Jesus with their own eyes nevertheless love and believe in Him. As a result, they experience a joy so deep, rich, and overwhelming that ordinary human language cannot adequately describe it.

The verse could be paraphrased:

“Though you have never seen Jesus, you love Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him, and because of that, you are filled with a joy that is beyond words and overflowing with God’s glory.”

Even the Apostle Paul struggled to find language large enough to describe God’s love. He prayed that believers would comprehend “the width and length and depth and height” of Christ’s love, only to conclude that it “passes knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19). In other words, God’s love can be experienced, enjoyed, and celebrated, but it can never be fully exhausted by human understanding or adequately described by human words.

Suppose every tree on earth were turned into paper and that paper stretched around the world. Suppose every pen were filled with ink and every writer devoted a lifetime to one subject, the love of God. Even after the last page was filled, the last drop of ink was spent, and every adjective in the human vocabulary was exhausted, we would still be unable to fully tell the story of His love.

God’s love is deeper than our understanding, greater than our imagination, and beyond our ability to describe. Human language eventually reaches its limit, but the love of God never does.

Salvation is a miracle that secures our eternal destiny and grants us an unshakable relationship with the Living God. This joy, born out of His redemptive love, is inexpressible and overflowing with glory.

Perhaps that is why the man healed at the Gate Beautiful could not contain himself. Scripture says he entered the Temple “walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:8). His miracle was too great for quiet reflection. His joy overflowed into celebration.

I often wonder how long he continued leaping and dancing. A day? A week? A month? At what point did the extraordinary become ordinary? At what point did the miracle that once left him astonished become simply another memory?

The same question confronts us. Have we become so familiar with our salvation that we no longer marvel at it? Have we lost the wonder of being forgiven, redeemed, and loved by God? The greatest miracle we have ever experienced is not merely physical healing or material provision; it is the salvation of our souls.

Loved Much, Forgiven Much

“Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47)

The story in Luke 7:36-50 reveals the power of forgiveness. At Simon the Pharisee’s house, a woman known as a sinner performed an extravagant act of love, washing Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointing them with fragrant oil. Her actions, though scorned by others, reflected her deep gratitude for the forgiveness she had received.

Jesus used this moment to teach about the depth of love that springs from an awareness of the magnitude of forgiveness. When He declared, “Your sins are forgiven,” He not only affirmed her faith but also highlighted the life-changing power of grace.

This woman understood something many people forget. Those who recognize the depth of their sin often become the most passionate worshippers. Those who understand how much they have been forgiven tend to love much, serve much, and rejoice much.

We now love God because He first loved us. The greater our understanding of His grace, the deeper our gratitude becomes. The more aware we are of what Christ has rescued us from, the more our hearts overflow with worship.

Never lose the joy of your salvation. Never become so familiar with grace that it ceases to amaze you. Keep leaping. Keep dancing. Keep praising. Keep remembering. The wonder of redemption should never become ordinary. Familiarity is often the enemy of gratitude.

Guarding the Joy of Salvation

It is possible to experience a miracle and yet, over time, lose the wonder of it. The healed man at the Gate Beautiful eventually stopped leaping. The woman who loved much eventually returned to daily life. The challenge for every believer is to never allow the extraordinary gift of salvation to become ordinary.

The Israelites witnessed the parting of the Red Sea, ate manna from heaven, and drank water from a rock. Yet even they began to take God’s provision for granted. We face the same danger. The pressures, routines, and responsibilities of life can slowly dull our gratitude for the greatest miracle we have ever received: the salvation of our souls.

David understood this danger. After his failure, he cried out:

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” (Psalm 51:12)

Perhaps it is time to ask ourselves a few honest questions:

• Have I lost the joy of my salvation?

• Have I drifted from my first love for the Lord?

• Have I become so familiar with grace that I no longer marvel at it?

• Have I forgotten to give thanks for the incredible gift of eternal life?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, the remedy is not complicated. Return to Him with a heart full of worship, gratitude, and wonder.

How to Restore the Joy

Bow in Worship
Remember what Christ has done for you. Reflect on the forgiveness you have received and the price He paid to secure your redemption.

Rejoice Freely
Never stop leaping, dancing, and celebrating God’s goodness. Joy expressed is often joy renewed.

Grow in Grace
Return to the Word. Feed your spirit. Fresh revelation rekindles gratitude and wonder.

Keep the Holy Sacred
Guard against allowing the things of God to become common. Maintain a sense of awe for His presence, His Word, and His salvation.

Lift Your Voice in Praise
Join the psalmist in declaring: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!”(Psalm 103:1)

The wonder of redemption should never become ordinary. Never lose the joy of your miracles. Never lose the joy of your salvation. Keep loving much, rejoicing much, and praising much, for those who know they have been forgiven much will never cease to be grateful.

Today’s Challenge

Take a few moments today. Grab a pen and paper, or open a note on your phone, tablet, or computer, and write down ten words, phrases, or descriptions that express what salvation means to you.

Perhaps you will write:

• Forgiven

• Redeemed

• Made Righteous

• Restored

• Loved

• Accepted

• Free

• Secure

• Transformed

• New Creation

Then look at your list and ask yourself: Have I truly exhausted the wonder of what God has done for me?

The reality is that even after ten words, twenty words, or a hundred words, you will still fall short of fully describing the miracle of God’s grace. His love is deeper than our understanding, greater than our imagination, and beyond our ability to adequately express.

Today, don’t just think about your salvation, celebrate it. Give thanks for it. Talk about it. Worship because of it. And ask the Lord, as David did: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.”

Never lose the wonder.

Never lose the gratitude.

Never lose the joy of your salvation.