Experiencing the Fullness of Joy

Scripture — Psalm 16:8-11 (NRSV)

I keep the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Devotion

In the next couple of months, the De Pree Center will be focusing on the theme of joy. Thus, I plan to write several Life for Leaders devotions in a series called “Experiencing the Fullness of Joy.” That phrase, “fullness of joy,” appears in the NRSV rendering of Psalm 16:11. I’ll say a bit more about this in a moment.

In order to prepare for this series, I read (or skimmed) at least four dozen scholarly articles on joy and a handful of books. (Three recommendations: The Book of Joy by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama, Joyspan by Dr. Kerry Burnight, and Joy and Human Flourishing, Miroslav Volf and Justin Crisp, eds.) While my research certainly helped me think more broadly about joy, it also added a measure of confusion. I discovered that there is no standard definition of joy that satisfies psychologists, theologians, philosophers, and non-specialists. If you dig into the literature, you’ll find a confusingly wide variety of definitions and conceptions.

Many authors write about joy in relation to happiness. They are clearly related, yet also quite different. As I sought to collate what I had been reading, I asked ChatGPT, my loyal research assistant, this question: “What is the difference between joy and happiness?” ChatGPT responded, first of all, by saying, “Excellent question.” (Oh, how wonderful to be affirmed by a digital platform!) ChatGPT added: “The difference between joy and happiness has been explored in psychology, philosophy, and theology, and while the words overlap, they carry distinct shades of meaning.” Yes. I know that. But what are those distinctions?

ChatGPT continued by explaining that happiness is rooted in “external circumstances,” while joy is an “inner state” based on “values, meaning, and spirituality.” Happiness “fluctuates with events,” though joy “can persist through hardship.” Whereas happiness focuses on “pleasure, comfort, and success,” joy is about “gratitude, love, purpose, and connection.” Happiness is often “shorter-term,” while joy is “more enduring.” ChatGPT added that joy is “a fruit of the Spirit . . . grounded in God.” (I’m glad to see that ChatGPT knows the Bible.)

Now, though I do not affirm the infallibility of ChatGPT, I do think it has given us a reliable picture of how most of us think about joy. Joy is similar to happiness in some ways. Both are positive, enjoyable emotions. Joy, however, is deeper and more enduring. It has less to do with external circumstances and more to do with the things that matter most in life. Joy can thrive even in times of suffering.

Joy, however we define it, has everything to do with God and our relationship with God. We see this time and again throughout the Bible, and quite dramatically in Psalm 16, where it says: “You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (16:11). What a captivating statement! “In your presence there is fullness of joy.” Not just a bit of joy. Not just momentary happiness. Not feelings based on external circumstances. But joy that is deep, enduring, and full as a response to God’s presence in our lives. Don’t you want to experience that kind of joy? I know I do!

Notice that the joy depicted in Psalm 16 is not some passionless religious state. If you’ve experienced a dialed-down version of Christianity, you might not think of biblical joy as very much fun. But Psalm 16 doesn’t share that perspective. The psalm writer says that his “heart is glad” and his “soul rejoices” (16:9). Then, after confessing that there is “fullness of joy” in God’s presence, he adds, “in your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (16:11).

Pleasures? The “churchified” part of me asks, “Really? Pleasures?” Yes, that’s what the Hebrew text proclaims. Other translations render the words of verse 11 more intriguingly. The CEB, for example, has for verse 11, “You teach me the way of life. In your presence is total celebration. Beautiful things are always in your right hand.” In God’s presence there is “total celebration.” Wow! Is that how you think of being in God’s presence?

I am not in any way reducing our faith and our relationship with God simply to emotions. Our faith rests on a bedrock of truth about God and God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Christian faith includes so much more than emotions. Yet, if we take Scripture seriously, then our faith surely incorporates and inspires emotions. The more we get to know the one true God, the more we will bow humbly and rejoice exuberantly. We will affirm what is true and celebrate the One who is the way, truth, and life.

Whatever we might think about joy, the Bible makes it clear that joy is experienced in relationship with God. The more we know God, the more we will rejoice. The more we are aware of God’s presence in our lives, the more our hearts will be filled with joy. The more we pay attention to God’s grace, the more we will enjoy “pleasures forever.”

In tomorrow’s Life for Leaders devotion, I will reflect further on the fullness of joy promised in Psalm 16:11. For now, let me encourage you to consider the following questions.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Abundant Joy!.