The other day in my morning study, I came across the verse that ends Psalm 16. “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” (v 11)

As I’ve pondered this for a few days, everything in this psalm is held in the truth of the middle portion of this verse: In Your presence is fullness of joy. Christianity isn’t trying to check off the boxes (pray to God in the morning, read a little of the Bible, sing a song), but it is actually being in His presence; having a relationship.

He is our Savior, our Lord, our inheritance, our portion, our refuge, and our counselor. He will make known to us the correct paths for our life, and we can have the very fullness of joy in His presence.

And then we come to the gem: In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior is at the right hand of the Father (Eph 1:20) and intercedes on our behalf (Rom 8:34). Because by faith we have believed in Him, we are promised eternity with Him – pleasures evermore. In our relationship with Jesus, we come “to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that [we] may be filled up to all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:19).

In His very presence, is fullness of joy. If you find yourself focusing on your circumstances instead of the One who has power over all circumstances, then indeed seek the fullness of joy that is only available in Jesus. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb 4:16)