photo: CCO public domain
My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.Psalm 63:5-8 (ESV)
As I looked for Scripture on this topic, I came across this. Wow! What could be better? To find my satisfaction in Jesus and to cling to Him rather than all those extra things I find to define myself and my value.
It seems I have spent so much of my life in this struggle. I want to do what GOD wants…at least up to a point. But I also know what I want for myself and my loved ones at a given time. Slowly, slowly, He has shown me that His plans are way better than mine. His plans bring true joy for all, not mine. His plans are what bring me true joy, even when the plans don’t work out the way I wanted.
So I’m in the process of learning to cling to Him. And just when I think I have learned how to cling? I learn I have just barely started. Until I learn the lesson of clinging to Him, I’l never learn true joy.
Until I learn the lesson of clinging to Him, I'll never learn true joy. Click To TweetThis is especially true at this time of year isn’t it?
Joy to the world, the LORD is come!
Hallelujah!
A good word Martha! Clinging to him allows us to face all the junk with a new perspective doesn’t it? Freedom comes form clinging to him and freedom in Christ, the ultimate joy!
a new pastor’s wife friend uses this term a lot, christy…and i love it:) not just looking to Him or leaning on Him, but clinging! it describes the need best doesn’t it? 🙂
It’s so hard to cling to God’s plans, but Gods are always better than what we have planned for ourselves. I’m over in the 4 spot this week.
so true tara:) His plans are always better than ours! yes, i was over at your post today:)
(Visiting from FMF) I so *wanted* to post something like this on this subject. I am usually a positive person, and I know God’s plan is bigger than mine, and I truly trust Him! In all honesty, it is the stress that surrounds me that has gradually invaded my calm trust in His plan.
I am not joyous, although my soul feels the joy of salvation.
I couldn’t explain in just 5 minutes the difference. I wish you continued joy!
welcome red. i posted a longer comment on your blog. blessings! this will be shorter.
you are in good company for sure. there are many who struggle with having/feeling joy at this time of year. when so many things in our world are not as they should be, it is difficult to feel joy.
in a world of injustice, sin, evil, death and sadness, joy seems fake at best. for us, joy comes in knowing Jesus came to earth in order to communicate with us and in order to redeem us and complete the full payment for our sin.
fortunately, the result of His coming, has set in motion a way to bring healing to this broken world. it may not bring joy to our immediate life situation, but it can bring joy and hope for the future when we and all creation will be completely healed from the damage caused by the Fall.