In His Presence . . . Joy

You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 16:11

I admit, I tend to be a bit of an Eeyore personality . . . I have developed the perspective of the glass half empty. It wasn’t always like this. As a matter of fact, I will never forget in choir under Mary Beth Woll when I was in Bible school and at Philadelphia Church umpteen years ago – I was doing something impish, waiting for our session to start, and this wizened little African-American woman sitting next to me chuckled at my behavior and said, “You haven’t a care in the world, do you?”
Now, although I am probably at least 20 years younger than her and likely have not experienced half of what she did, I feel like her. I have been a bit beat up by life’s experiences and lost that lighthearted carefree-ness . . . I have lost trust . . . in big things and little things.
Trust is one of the things being rebuilt in me and with that, joy. A common theme of what was prayed and spoken over me in the weeks surrounding my graduation in June was that God was going to bring me back to a place of joy in my life. With that, I was looking forward to a change in some of the circumstances in my life – “Yes, God, I receive that word!” I watched for things to begin to change . . . However, while that may still happen – it’s early days yet – I don’t think that is what God has in mind.
“In your presence is fullness of joy.” Yes, God could change the situations in my present existence that would make things less stressful, less grievous, which may enable me to feel more joy. In all honesty though, I’m not sure that would really do it. Rather, I think the challenge is for me to seek Him and in His presence, begin to learn joy again. Joy that is based on immutable God rather than fickle circumstances and emotions.
I think that is why that woman that day – so sorry I cannot think of her name (Roberta?), although I see her clearly in my mind – I think that is why she was able to chuckle at me rather than grumble at my behavior. She knew a little bit about the abiding presence of Jesus and the resulting joy that comes from engaging in relationship with Him rather than depending on external factors.