Finding Fresh Joy in God
“Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
It is easy to get stuck in a rut, isn't it? We get up, have our tea, go to work, come home, and do it all again the next day. But when we look at the Psalms, particularly Psalm 37, we find a wonderful antidote to the worry and fretfulness that often accompany the daily grind. We are invited to "delight" in the Lord. This isn't a call to a sombre, boring religious duty. It is an invitation to a relationship that is vibrant and alive.
Think for a moment about the God we delight in. He is the ultimate Creator. He did not create a monochrome world; He painted it with a riot of colour and filled it with a staggering variety of plants, animals, and people for us to enjoy. As the book of Job reminds us, God is the one who scatters the lightning, directs the snow, and balances the clouds. If we stop and consider the wondrous works of God, as Elihu urged Job to do, we see that our Maker is dynamic and full of surprises.
Since we are made in the image of this creative God, we were not designed to merely do the same thing over and over until it loses all meaning. We are meant to grow. Just as Abraham had to keep moving on his journey to meet new challenges and grow his faith, we often need to shift our scenery or our habits to keep our spiritual lives fresh. If circumstances never changed, life would become entirely predictable, and without the challenge of the new, we might stop growing altogether.
So, I want to encourage you to do something "out of the box" this week. It does not have to be a grand gesture. Perhaps you could take a different route on your walk, try a new hobby, or speak to someone you usually walk past. When we step out of our comfort zones, we often find that God is there waiting for us, ready to teach us something new about His faithfulness.
Remember that delighting in the Lord means our hearts begin to align with His. When we find our joy in Him, we start to love what He loves. We begin to see His handiwork in the changing seasons and the new opportunities He places in front of us. Don't be afraid of change. As some Bible commentators have noted, life is a school, and the Lord knows exactly when we need a new lesson or a new examination to help us mature.
Let us not settle for a stagnant faith. God gives us all things richly to enjoy. So go ahead and embrace the adventure. You might just find that in trying something unexpected, you end up thanking God for the fresh breath of air in your soul.
Prayer:
Lord, You are the Creator of all things, and Your imagination has no end. Forgive me for when I let my life become dull or fearful. Help me to find my true delight in You. Give me the courage to step out of my routine, to embrace the new things You are doing, and to see Your hand in every fresh opportunity. Keep my heart open to Your surprises. In Jesus' name, Amen.