Devotional - December 17, 2025
Scripture: Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
When I was a chaplain in the prison system, one of the songs we would sing on Sunday went like this, I've got ______, ______, ______, I've got ______ deep down in my heart, the world didn't give it, the world can't take it away. In the blanks we would sing one of the following: love, hope, faith, and joy. Almost looks like Advent doesn't it? Funny how I did not notice it until recently. As we sang along, I would think to myself, I can understand love, hope, and faith, but joy? In here? But then, I found the answer to my question was there in the song. The joy came from God, not the world. If a person is willing, come what may, God can give them joy in their situation. The psalmist in our text today understood this even during times when things were not good between them and God. There may have been a time for correction, but God's favor would remain steadfast, and their joy would return. Same with us. God is always seeking to help us on our journey of life. The problem is, often we do not ask or seek God for it. Have you ever sat through an entire church service dwelling on a difficulty you were facing? I think we all have. Yes, me too, when I did not lead worship. There you are in the church, surrounded by people of faith, singing songs of faith, hearing from the Bible, the book of faith, but your mind is a million miles away. You've got better, more important things to think about... If you had let go of all that striving (Psalm 46:10), let yourself rest in God (Exodus 33:14), you would have felt an elevation of spirit that only a Christian understands (Psalm 61: 2-3). Your problem may not have been instantly solved, but you would have experienced a peace about the situation (Philippians 4:7) and your joy return. Joy is not an emotion. Emotions like happiness, sadness, and so forth come and go; that is normal. True joy, I believe, only comes from God through Jesus Christ. It is the product of the hope and peace we have through Christ. It is what empowered Paul and Silas to sing while in prison (Acts 16: 16-40). It allows us to endure hardship in life without despairing (Nehemiah 8:10). I hope you enjoy some of the joy I have spoken of this week, as you allow more of God's Light into your life.
Pray with me..., Holy God it is difficult to maintain our joy in this life. Help us to rely on Your presence, Your faithfulness, Your word, as the Source of our joy. Hear us as we pray for our loved ones. Bless them we pray in accordance with their needs. Grant Your blessing on our church, lead us, so we can be the people You call us to be, in Jesus name, Amen.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Brian
