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“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” Psalm 51:12

I’m not exactly sure why, but I’ve been a bit bummed out lately. And I have no excuse, really. Sure, my family has a current challenges and struggles (like most people these days), but, overall, we are so very blessed. Although some physical pain nags me, I am able to work to provide for our needs. We live in a comfortable home in an amazing community, and we are part of an incredible, Bible-believing church.

So, why the melancholy? Well, it could be that whenever I tune in to what’s going on in our nation and world, a flood of negative emotions rushes in. Maybe it’s because I work from home all day in my little bubble, and when I venture out, I’m smacked in the face by a dystopian reality rapidly growing around me. So, despite being in the Word daily and worshipping with others twice a week, the pops of joy and peace seem way too short lived.

But David’s prayer in Psalm 51 was brought to mind, and his words washed over my soul: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation” (verse 12a). Now, “joy” is a great word study in the Bible—Old and New Testament. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10)…Joy is to be lived out as a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)…We are to count it joy when we suffer trials (James 1:2)…Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2)…And we are exhorted to have joy (rejoice) always (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

As inspiring and convicting as these (and the hundreds of others) “joy” references in God’s Word are, they can each leave us hanging with an all-important question: How do we embrace—and live out—Biblical joy? This is where David’s prayer comes in.

As believers, we have a reason to celebrate that trumps anything this life could provide. It eclipses the most amazing family events, career experiences, vacations, and worldly “stuff”—all momentary things. Sister, we have been given the greatest gift imaginable. Jesus has paid the price for our sin and handed us His righteousness. Our salvation has set us free, making us a new creation in Christ. There is no greater miracle—and no better reason for joy.

No matter the highs or lows of this life, embracing the joy of our salvation creates a soul-level undercurrent of satisfaction. See, apart from Jesus, this world, from the heights of its glitter to the depths of its folly, is as good as it gets. But once we give our life to Him, we are simply on our way Home. The beauty around us is an infinitesimal taste of Heaven, and our pain and trouble are “light and momentary” (2 Corinthians 4:17) in the view of eternity.

Because of our faith in Jesus, we have a confident hope within us setting a foundation of everlasting joy. So, as we walk through this temporary world full of eternal souls, let’s not only grasp tightly to the joy of our own salvation, let’s share the Good News with others…and spread the joy.

“Father, restore to me the joy of Your salvation, reminding me daily my reason for hope and stirring me to tell others.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life