“You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.”
Psalm 16:11 HCSB
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4 HCSB
We don’t have to wait for life’s best days to experience joy.
When we rush through our days, we often neglect to notice the joy in the journey. We’re so focused on the destination—an answered prayer, the next accomplishment, an upcoming big event—that we miss the quiet ways in which the Lord is presently blessing us.
In Psalm 16, we’re told that joy is found “in His presence”. We can have joy right now, in the midst of life’s ordinary moments, as well as during the difficult ones. What if, instead of rushing through, we paused long enough to see the Lord’s blessings, even in the busy and tough times.
in James 1, we’re reminded us that these trials are not interruptions to our growth. Instead, they are part of the process. The Lord helps us through the hard seasons. The difficulties we’re trying to escape are often the situations God is using to help shape us, strengthen us, and draw us closer to Him.
There are seasons when we are deep in sorrow and we struggle to see anything that’s good. In those times, joy may look like finding peace in uncertainty, strength when we’re weak, or hope when things don’t make sense.
Each day, make space to slow down. Breathe. And prayerfully invite the Lord into your journey.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank You for Your presence with us each day. May we trust You throughout our journeys, in both the good and tough times. Please help us to find joy in the blessings You provide. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Journal: Spend some time with the Lord today. Where can you find joy in His blessings?