By Elizabeth Pruitt
Psalm 40:16
Choose joy!!
Have you seen this advice on social media or received it from a well-meaning friend? Sometimes when I hear those words, I think “Really, you don’t understand what I am going through. Seems too easy. Seems a little trite.”
Psalm 40 verse 16 says, “But all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, The LORD is great!”
This Psalm is about David being in distress, praying to be rescued, waiting (and waiting) for God, to lift him from his trouble, and then giving God praise for saving him. We’ve all been in our own pit of trouble: an unwelcome diagnosis, the loss of a job, disappointment, death of a loved one, a broken relationship. The list could go on and on. We can be comforted, that our joy is not contingent on our situation, for our joy is grounded in the Lord. Romans 5 verses 10-11 confirm this, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
I guess as believers, we have “Chosen Joy”. This deep-down joy comes when we are reconciled to God through faith Jesus Christ.
This Christmas, and always, let us remember that we can rejoice regardless of our circumstances because of Christ within our hearts.
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where!?)
Down in my heart (where!?)
Down in my heart.
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart (where!?)
Down in my heart to stay.