In Your Presence. . . Joy

In Your Presence . . . Joy

You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Have you ever known someone who, by their very presence brought joy to your heart? For us, Christ is that Person to the highest degree. David declares in our text for today. ‘In Your Presence is fullness of joy.’ We tend to think that joy is something we can choose, that it is the result of our own effort and decision. If we somehow conquer the practice of positive thinking, joy will overpower all that hinders it. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Joy is not something with which we paint over the difficult things; it is purely the product of nearness to Christ. It is the fruit of the Spirit’s work. Ultimately, It is His Presence that makes for joy, and not just joy, but ‘fullness of joy.’ Behold the joy that Christ brought throughout His earthly ministry by His Presence. He brought joy to the household where He performed His first miracle by turning water into wine. He brought joy by His Presence when He raised the son of the widow of Nain; Jairus’s daughter; and Lazarus. He brought joy at the Triumphal entry, and after His resurrection when the ‘disciples were glad, when they saw the Lord.’

Darkness turns to light when Christ is near; loneliness turns to society; sadness turns to joy; anxiety turns to calm; strife turns to peace. Today, struggling Saint, let this be your hope, ‘In Your Presence is fullness of joy.’ Christ draws near to all who draw near to Him. He will not deny your desire to dwell in His Presence. Let your heart be glad today. Christ is near, and in His Presence is fullness of Joy.

We rejoice in You,
O Christ today,
In the fullness of joy we find in Your Presence,
And in the sunlight of Your love!

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice