“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4

Are you happy? 

Unfortunately, the answer is no for many. Since the beginning of time, people have pursued happiness. Countless books and resources have been produced to help others find happiness. 

And for most, this search is never-ending. Because truthfully, happiness is temporary and often tied to one’s circumstances.

Happiness is but a shadow of the real thing: JOY.

The issue is that people often seek joy, peace, and satisfaction in temporary things. Thus, they are left empty and constantly looking for the next fix.

True and lasting joy can only be found in God. It is a state of being, not merely a temporary emotion or feeling, and is independent of circumstances.

Nehemiah 8:10b states, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The only way to find true fulfillment and contentment is to delight in The Lord.

Let us explore what this means, why it matters, and how to practice it.

True Joy and Fulfillment

There is a lasting joy that is available to all. Unfortunately, just as with every good thing The Lord creates, the devil corrupts it and presents people with counterfeits.

Hence godly joy vastly differs from worldly joy.

The Difference Between Godly Joy and Worldly Joy

Godly joy is eternal, fulfilling, resting in the nature and faithfulness of God. Seeking godly joy provides peace, strength, and satisfaction.

Worldly joy is temporary, feels empty, dependent on circumstances, and can be stolen. It produces bitter fruit.

One who chases after worldly pleasures can become prideful, greedy, and lustful.

Worldly joy lies on the outside: material success, relationships, and recognition. 

True, godly joy rests in inner knowledge and peace in a genuine relationship with the Heavenly Father.

Joy vs. Happiness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” – Galatians 5:22

The Holy Spirit produces joy in us, not happiness.

Happiness is an emotion, a nice feeling. It comes and goes. Here one moment and gone the next.

Happiness is an outward expression of what we feel in the present. A situation, a person, an event, or even a thought can trigger happiness.

Joy is biblical. It is a state of mind, a choice, an encouragement. Joy is a promise from God (John 15:11-12). It provides comfort, contentment, fulfillment, and peace. Joy is rooted in God. 

Joy is a matter of heart and soul. It is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit in us.

Obtaining Joy and Life Fulfillment as a Christian

A Christian’s joy is found in God, as Jesus is our life. He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14:6). We’ll never be content if we don’t abide in Him (John 15:4).

The Bible invites us to delight in The Lord and find our pleasure in Him because everything else is temporary (Matthew 24:35). 

• Romans 12:12 ~ Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
• Philippians 4:4 ~ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
• James 1:2 ~ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
• John 16:24 ~ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
• Psalms 47:1 ~ Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
• Proverbs 10:28 ~ The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
• Romans 15:13 ~ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Delight Yourself in The Lord

“You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11

What Does It Mean to Delight in The Lord?

A few Bible translations present Psalm 37:4a as this:

• “Enjoy The Lord”,
• “Seek your happiness in The Lord”,
• “Be happy with The Lord”,
• “Take pleasure in Yahweh”, and
• “Enjoy serving The Lord”.

Delighting in God is finding satisfaction and joy in our relationship with Him, who He is, and what He has done for us. It is looking to Him for joy.

It is acknowledging Him as the source of our joy and life fulfillment.

The Importance of Delighting in The Lord

Delighting in The Lord helps us embrace the Holy Spirit’s work in us and strengthens our relationship with The Father.

Taking pleasure in The Lord helps us fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) instead of our circumstances. It is the calling of every Christian. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus instructs us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”

The joy of The Lord brings peace, blessings, and contentment (Psalm 1:2, Philippians 4:4).

Delighting in God shifts our focus from worldly concerns to His eternal promises, guiding us to live with purpose and trust in His perfect plan.

Benefits of Rejoicing in The Lord

Psalm 37:4 promises that when we delight In God, He will give us the desires of our hearts. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus also promises that much will be added to us when we seek God first and His righteousness.

Seeking joy in The Lord keeps our hearts focused on what truly matters. As the Holy Spirit works in us, He produces good and pure desires, essential for a fulfilled life on this side of eternity and beyond.

Thus, the more we enjoy His Presence, the more we see those desires manifesting in our lives.

The joy of The Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Taking pleasure in God means having a heart for what He loves.

It empowers us to love and serve others (Romans 12:10), preach the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20), and find peace and comfort during challenging seasons (Psalm 9:9-10). 

Delighting in God strengthens our faith. As we come closer to Him, He comes closer to us (James 4:8). We can be satisfied with Him because we have experienced His faithfulness, goodness, and unfailing love.

He is our joy (Psalm 43:4🙂 and peace, and will never fail us.

How to Delight in The Lord

Joy is to be cultivated and sought after. It does not happen haphazardly.

In a world filled with pain and causes for distress, we must deliberately choose joy and bask in it. 

Practical Steps to Rejoice in The Lord

Delighting in The Lord is a heart posture. It’s about seeking Him above all else. Here are five practical steps to finding joy in God:

1. Spend Time in God’s Word – Finding our joy in God is to know Him: His heart, nature, and character. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 says that the Scriptures are the inspired Word of God. There is no better way to know God intimately than to dive into The Bible. And the Holy Spirit will reveal His heart to us as we ask Him (John 14:26).
2. Pray With a Heart of Gratitude – Cultivating a posture of gratefulness keeps our eyes fixed on God. We remind ourselves of His faithfulness. We fill our minds with all the ways He blessed us, big or small. We trust that He works everything for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Spending time in prayer strengthens our relationship with Him, and we experience more of Him day by day.
3. Praise and Worship – “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” – Psalm 96:1-2. Yes, let us sing to The Lord, proclaiming His goodness and faithfulness. Let us express our love and adoration for Him. Let the words of worship songs fill our minds and hearts.
4. Observe and Bask in God’s creation – “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31a. Nature, for the most part, is peaceful. And it’s no wonder, for it is God’s good creation. Spending time admiring nature is a sure way to fill our hearts with peace. We get to admire God’s handiwork, its beauty, the care He put into it, and His passion. This lets us see His heart for all He created, particularly us.
5. Serve Others – The Lord calls us to love one another (John 13:34-35). Seeking His heart is genuinely caring for our neighbors. Through acts of service, we get to acknowledge God’s faithfulness in our own lives, share Him with others, and relate with Him as He served us, too. And we remember what He says in Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

As we grow in our relationship with God, the natural response will be to delight in Him more and more.

Delighting in the Lord During Difficult Times 

In John 16:33, Jesus warns us that we will face trials on earth. Yet, He encourages us to stand firm because He has won the victory.

We can rejoice amid challenges because we know our God will right all the wrongs. If not now on earth, then soon in Heaven.

It is not easy to find joy when pain is prevalent. It is not about faking happiness when all is breaking up inside us.

It is finding our strength and refuge in God (Psalm 46:1).

It is crying out to Him and trusting He got our back. It is hoping and believing He will wipe out our tears (Revelation 21:4).

Delighting in Him means finding peace and comfort in His embrace and promises. It is totally depending on Him to get us to the other side.

Joshua 1:9 tells us to be strong and courageous for God is with us. Thus, we must make it a point to find joy in God during hard times.

And as the apostle Paul did, let us learn to be content in every season (Philippians 4:11).

Conclusion

“I delight greatly in the Lord;

my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Isaiah 61:10

Delighting in the Lord brings true joy, peace, and fulfillment. It is far greater than temporary happiness for it is rooted in a genuine relationship with Heavenly Father.

When we delight in God, we live with an eternal perspective that brings purpose and peace. 

Embark on this journey of rejoicing in The Lord by seeking His heart in His Word, spending time praising and worshiping Him, admiring His creation, practicing gratitude, and loving our neighbors well.

When you delight in the Lord, you will discover a joy that surpasses all understanding and a fulfillment that lasts for eternity.