Looking to Him for Joy

I heard it again today at church. Psalm 34:6. Didn't we have that verse last Sunday, too? Sure enough, I flipped through the pages to last week's Bible readings and it popped up again.

Hmm. Was God trying to tell me something? It's a good thing He doesn't mind repeating things when I just don't get it the first time!

Psalm 34:6 says, "Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy." There's a lot of good stuff packed in that short little verse...

Joy. That quality that every Christian is supposed to bubbling with. A smile always on our face. Positive thoughts and words always in my mind and on the tip of my tongue. Never a worry or a fear.

Right?

Not so much. One of my favorite definitions of joy is this: "Joy is that deep-settled confidence that God is in control of every area of your life." Wow. That doesn't sound like superficial smiles or trite sayings. Deep-settled confidence. Knowing God is in control.

That sounds more like a choice, a decision. Not a fleeting emotion.

And to make that decision, we "look to Him." He is the source of joy. We can only find that deep-settled confidence by looking to Him. If we are seeking Him, learning more about Who He is and about His amazing love, how can we not choose to have joy?

And when we have that true joy, then we will be radiant. Only when we have spent time with the Source of joy will we be able to share it, to radiate it, to others.