The fullness of joy

Christine Colliar August 02, 2025 4 2

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Psalm 16 (NIVUK)

1 Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord;
    apart from you I have no good thing.’
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
    ‘They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.’
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
    or take up their names on my lips.

5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

‘I keep the Lord always before me,’ says the psalmist, ‘because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.’(verse 8). There’s a steadiness here. Not the absence of trouble, but the presence of trust. Joy doesn’t come from having everything in hand, but from knowing whose hand is holding mine.

At the heart of this psalm is a promise — in God’s presence there is fullness of joy (verse 11). This is a joy that runs deep, the kind of joy that grows when we turn towards God, listen for God’s voice, rest in God’s word.

Imagine this. You’ve been searching all day, worn out and wandering. And then, just ahead, someone waves you in. There’s shelter, warmth, and a voice calling your name. You step inside, and something settles. You haven’t just found a place to rest, you’ve come home.

This is the joy the psalmist names. It’s more than surface cheer, it’s the deep gladness of knowing you are not lost, not forgotten, not alone.

Prayer:

God of joy,

you meet me when I knock,

you speak when I listen,

you stay close when I falter.

Thank you for the gifts I’ve received this week,

for laughter shared,

for courage to ask,

for moments of welcome and grace.

Keep me rooted in your presence,

trusting enough to ask and to wait,

steady in joy that surprises and sustains,

held in the grace I’ve shared and received.

May I walk your path with a light heart

and open hands,

knowing that in you

there is fullness of joy.

Amen

What can I do? Spend a few minutes noticing and giving thanks for small joys around you today, like a bird singing, a colourful flower, or a friendly smile.