Where Does True Joy Comes From?
“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
I love that no matter what David is facing throughout the Psalms, it’s so evident that God is the source of all of his joy and security. From times where David was literally being hunted through the desert by his former mentor, to experiencing the brutal realities of his own sin, David shares it all throughout his poetry.
Even when he feels that God is silent, he is so quick to remind his spirit of the truth of who God is.
I think this is easy for David to do because he has experienced for himself the goodness of God. He knows what it means to listen to, trust, and love the Lord. He has chosen to follow God’s way rather than his own way, and even when he does stray, he repents and finds solace and forgiveness from God. And when hard times come his way, David knows he can experience “fullness of joy” in God’s presence, and trust that in Heaven, he will experience “pleasures forevermore.”
This is so encouraging because while we have the great hope of Heaven, where there will be no more death or sadness or fear, we get to experience Heaven come to earth now. When we walk with God, He gives us the gift of His Spirit, which empowers us with joy, peace, and wisdom for whatever we face.
When we’re at a crossroads, the Spirit “make[s] known to [us] the path of life,” and helps us navigate our decisions. When we are afraid, the Spirit gives us comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). When we feel the urge to sin, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf and enables us to have the self-control we need to resist (Romans 8:26-27, 2 Timothy 1:7).
I pray that today, you remember that you’re never alone. You have a glorious inheritance waiting for you, and you have access to all of God’s Spirit today. No matter what you’re facing, you have the Source of true joy and peace!