DELIGHT

On one occasion as I was driving, I heard the Lord speak a word into my spirit. He said, "Delight." I was then nudged to recall the scripture in Psalms 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart" (ESV).

I am sharing this because there is someone reading now who is going through a long-term struggle. Perhaps you feel like one traumatic event leads into another traumatic event. The tidal wave of life leaves you gulping for oxygen and you wonder if you can endure the intensity of what is required of you in this season. Maybe you ask: "Is this really happening to me?" You wonder: "Will I ever again have the desires of my heart?"

BE ENCOURAGED! This won't last, you will survive. No matter how tough it gets or how rough the storm, lock down your faith and hold on! This will not feel natural, and your emotions will want to drag you down to a very dark place. But lock down your faith and hold on to Jesus. His Word is truth!

What you are going through right now may stay overnight. But this is temporary, and it won’t last forever. You may have seen hardship, but God’s favor lasts a lifetime. There is a joy we anticipate that is not of this world. When we wake up in Jesus, we have lasting joy. Why? Because we have untold riches and blessings. Our salvation is eternal and nothing in this world can tarnish or distract from the value of this immeasurable gift.

There is a joy you can have that is not determined by how people treat you. It cannot be taken from you. Your possessions may be taken away; but joy is not based on your treasures. If your heart is set on "delighting in the Lord," there is no devil or person cunning enough to rob you of this kind of joy.

After you come through–and you will–you will again delight yourself in the Lord. The promise that stands strong at the end of this promise: "He will [then] give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4 (ESV).

I love you and I am praying for you.

Rhonda Brown serves as the Women’s Ministries director in Alabama.  She is an ordained minister with the Church of God and has practiced as a clinical therapist.  She has been married to Bishop Tim Brown for 46 years and they have two married sons and one grandson. She loves to decorate, travel, read, and have good conversation with friends.