Advent Devotional: Day 25

You make known to me  the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  Psalm 16:11 NLV

“You will fill me with joy in your presence” is the line that says worship. When we take the time to be in His presence, He shows us His love by filling us with hope and peace which leads to the fullness of Joy.   The circle we create with Him is a continuous one, but only when we come into His presence.

When anxiety or depression hits me, I avoid His Presence until I have sunk to the point of isolating myself completely. Joy is absent because hope is missing, as is His presence.  These are the moments His love is the only thing that can reach me.  In my prayers I cry out to Him and He hears me.

He bring to mind scriptures I need, here are just two that are not included in this blog series:

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 46:1-2  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth give away, though the mountains be moved into the sea.”

When Hope is absent, so is peace and joy, but love is always around us. We may not see it at a bad moment, but it is there.  Choosing to worship snaps me out of my depression and my anxiety.

Where do you find your Joy?  How do you express it?  Where can you share it?