PSALM 16:7–11 Fullness of Joy
READ: PSALM 16:7—11
v. 11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy.”
What is joy? I think we know the feeling. Waking up to a birthday brings a giddy feeling for many kids. Finishing exams makes you want to jump for joy. Happiness comes with landing that new job or promotion. Getting married, welcoming your first child or grandchild are natural reasons to be glad and celebrate.
But what is the “fullness of joy” that David writes about? What joy is bigger and better than anything else we go through in life? It’s a happiness that comes not from other people or events in our lives or the circumstances in which we live. Rather, it is the incredible experience of having a close and personal relationship with the Lord of heaven and earth. David says, speaking of God: in your presence there is fullness of joy. In other words: when I’m with you, my heart is as full of joy as it can be!
This is what we were created for and this is what God is re-creating us to experience through Jesus his Son. Our rebellion in Eden broke that relationship and made God angry with us. But Jesus has come to take away that anger by paying the penalty for our sin. Christ makes known to us the path of life—in fact, as he said, Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. By believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we gain access to our Father again in a new relationship of harmony, peace, love, and joy.
Jesus wants us to have joy, a bottomless and lasting joy deep down in our hearts. It’s a joy that surpasses birthday presents, great jobs, beautiful marriages, and newborn babies. As we trust and obey our Lord, we will abide in his love and his joy will be in us, a full joy (John 15:10–11). His Spirit lives in us to communicate the constant comfort of the Father’s love for us. It’s a joy that endures even in times of trouble and hardship, for no matter how painful or miserable or ugly your situation is, one thing never changes: God loves you because of Christ. Your sins are forgiven, your name is written in the Book of Life and your eternal future in glory is 100 percent assured. Now that’s fullness of joy!
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