Discovering Joy With the PsalmsНамуна

My friend Tony struggled to put his trust in Jesus. At 41 years old, Tony had been in charge of his life for a long time. The idea of surrendering to God and trusting Him held him back.

Tony’s struggle reminds me of the way King David struggled. In Psalm 13, he asked God five hard questions. “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?”

It's Okay to Ask God Hard Questions

Those questions may feel familiar. If you’ve struggled for a long time, or it feels like God has forgotten you, joy may seem like it’s something for other people, but not for you.

But consider what David says at the end of that chapter. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” According to David, trusting in God’s unfailing love leads us to rejoice in God’s salvation.

There are likely real obstacles to you experiencing joy. You need to know that Jesus came to overcome them. John Piper once said, "The gospel is not a way to get people to heaven; it is a way to get people to God. It’s a way of overcoming every obstacle to everlasting joy in God."

Not only did Jesus come so that we could have eternal life with God after we die, but Jesus also came so that we might have joy here and now in this life today.

My friend Tony experienced this when he realized that every obstacle he’d set up had been overcome. He surrendered his life to Jesus and put his trust in Him. God’s love changed the way he saw himself and the way he saw his family, friends, and coworkers.

Do You Know How Much God Loves You?

If you could comprehend God’s love for you, I believe joy would be as accessible to you as the next paragraph in this plan. Because of what Jesus did for you, you can say “I am loved.”

Take a moment right now, close your eyes, and repeat those words. “I am loved by God.” Marinate your heart and mind in these words like you would a piece of meat in a sauce before cooking it. Contemplating your identity as God’s beloved can help you discover joy in the middle of your current circumstances. Even if your challenges remain, God’s love for you will never change.

If you enjoyed this reading plan, I’d love to help you get a deeper sense of God’s love for you. Click here to get complimentary access to the three tools I use when feelings of shame and discouragement are louder than the truth of God’s love in my life!