In His Presence is Fullness of Joy

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:1

Our world has been through a lot in the past year. As I reflect back to where we were a year ago I wonder how the tragedy of COVID-19 shaped us for the world we live in today.

In the spring of 2020 our hearts were set on new life in harmony with the wildlife blooming all around us. In truth a harsh winter of scarcity and lack was encroaching. Most of us were sheltering in place as the world around us was falling apart.

There was so much fear, confusion, and loss. So many things were taken away, vacations and weddings, gathering with loved ones, graduations, the freedom of running out to a movie or our favorite restaurant to have a little fun, even the toilet paper was gone! Tragically many lives were lost to this terrible virus and others who survived fought for their lives in a hospital alone without the ones they loved at their side. Businesses and homes were lost, the essential workers gave their all and sacrificed so much. No one was spared this hardship, even those of us who suffered the least, this pandemic forced changes in our life whether we wanted it or not. The COVID-19 world we inherited was harsh.

I still find myself sorting through the grief of it all. I cannot recall a time when life was so uncertain. All of the things we relied on, the things we thought were dependable were stripped away as we found new ways to survive quickly learning what was essential.

As we rebuild and resume our lives what will we cling to as essential?

What things did we learn are best to release and let go?

For me and my house, we will serve the Lord. He will show us the path of life. I cannot forget that it was He who carried me through the eye of the storm. He was constant, He was faithful when everything else was shaking ground. Time and time again He showed up and provided for our family in miraculous ways. I do not want to ever forget His faithfulness, His love and the lessons He taught me through this season as I truly learned to rely on Him for my daily bread.

He is showing me how to live and not just in a pandemic. He is showing me He is dependable and reliable. I am not always walking out this faith perfectly, I am human. In fact, the inspiration for this blog post comes from feelings of dissatisfaction and being hard-pressed on every side. It is easy to seek after earthly pleasures and while these on their own are not inherently evil, they are fleeting and can never truly satisfy. Satisfaction is something we can only receive from Him. The more I choose the joy, peace, and comfort that He provides instead of fulfilling them in earthy things my worries dissipate. I am confident He alone can satisfy.

What He offers us has no lack, it does not run out, there is more than enough, it is everlasting and it cannot be shaken or taken away.

No matter how harshly this year or this life has dealt with you, I pray that you will see choosing life with the Lord at your side as essential. He is the one thing that cannot be taken away. He will never leave you or forsake you.

He will make known to you the path of life. In His presence is fullness of JOY at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.