The Daily Sip

Fullness of Joy

Published

11 years ago

December 6, 2012

“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 16:11 ESV)

Joy is found in Jesus. In His presence.

It’s as simple and as hard as that. If I’m experiencing joylessness, I’m not fully entering into relationship with Jesus, despite the fact that I may have a “personal relationship” with Him. It’s a daily thing. Not a once in a lifetime thing.

It may be I’m trying to find joy in other places. It’s often in times of loss when I discover where my joy really truly is anchored. The truth is, anything in this world can be stripped from us: health, loved ones, our possessions. Only Jesus lasts.

In The One Year Book of Hope, Nancy Guthrie writes, “Jesus is the only permanent joy in this world and the next. If your joy is not found in Jesus, then you joy can be taken from you.” Guthrie calls this type of joy “solid joy.” She continues on to say:

The reason our joy is secure and will last forever is because Jesus has been raised from the dead and will never be cut off from us again. By defeating death and holding the keys to death in his hands, Jesus will never die, and we don’t have to die either. The resurrection of Jesus means that not only will he live forever as the source of our joy, but we also will live forever if he is the source of our joy.

In the stores and on the radio this season we will hear the song, “Joy to the World.” But do we really know what it means? Joy for you and me? To live in the true joy of Christmas?

The rest of song answers where that joy is found: “The Lord is come!”

And so He has. May that knowledge and His personal presence bring me — and you — fullness of joy.

Spread the love

Related Topics:Christmas Danielle Ayers Jones joy

Up Next

Living Community

Don't Miss

Christmas Favorites: Phil Wickman’s “Songs for Christmas”

Danielle Ayers Jones

Danielle Ayers Jones is wife to an amazing husband and mother to three. She's a writer and photographer, combining both loves on her blog, danielleayersjones.com. A space where she seeks to find beauty in everyday places, joy in hardship, rest in the struggle, and encouragement in unexpected places. She's also written for Thriving Family, Clubhouse, Jr., iBelieve.com, StartMarriageRight.com, and FortheFamily.org. You can follow Danielle on Instagram here and Pinterest here.

Advertisement Looking for a place to leave a comment? Wonderful! Click here to join the conversation in our Ungrind Facebook Group.

"Real life is not always pleasant. Every marriage experiences disappointments, misunderstandings, sickness and financial crisis. Ashleigh doesn’t camouflage the pain in her own marriage, and offers practical ideas on how to walk through the difficulties and find intimacy on the journey. If you are anything like me, I predict that as you read, you too will find yourself laughing, wiping tears, and saying 'Oh, yes.'"

-- Gary Chapman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The 5 Love Languages