The Joy of the LordSample

The Lord is Always With You by Pastor Evan Carmichael

Senior Pastor of Arise Church – Big Island, Hawaii

Scripture

Psalm 16:8-11, "I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."

Observation

David had his fair share of pain and sorrow in his life.  Some of it was self- inflicted.  What stood out about David was that he ran to God whenever life got tough rather than away from Him.  Even when David messed up, he found peace, joy, and comfort in the Lord.  He didn't base his joy on his circumstances but rather on God's presence.  He knew that even at his lowest moments, God still loved him and was near to him.

Application

With everything going on in the world today, it's easy to feel forgotten; it's easy to feel sad.  Things seem to be changing every day; it isn't easy to find our bearings.  David gives us a great reminder that God has not forgotten you!  The Lord is always with you.  We can find joy in His presence rather than in our circumstances.  When you look at David's life, you see that he continually faced opposition, yet he never lost sight of who God is.  No matter what you are facing at this moment, God is a good God.  His peace, love, and mercy endure forever.  That will never change.  As children of God, we are surrounded by His presence wherever we go.  David took his vision off of the present and looked towards the eternal.  He looked forward to the pleasures of living with God forever.  Whatever problems you face here on earth, although it may hurt, is only temporary.  Don't get too fixated on the now; remember we have a "blessed hope" that Jesus will return, and we will spend eternity with Him in His magnificent glory forever.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to remember that our help comes from You.  In these ever-changing times, may we stay grounded in the fact that You are always with us and will never leave us.  May we be people whose joy is based on our presence rather than in our circumstances.  

In Jesus’ name, Amen