“It is only in the presence of God that fullness of joy can be found.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 22, 2026
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11, NKJV
There are many things that bring joy to our lives, and for each, we can and should give thanks to God. These can be as simple as a home-cooked meal or a last-minute victory on the field, and can be as deep and meaningful as the birth of a child or the relational intimacy shared between a husband and wife. However, whatever may come to mind for you, today we are reminded that these joys, in and of themselves, are always incomplete, a taste of joy that points beyond itself to something deeper, richer, truer.
It is only in the presence of God that fullness of joy can be found.
The joys we experience in this world lead us down a path of joy, what the psalmist calls “the path of life.” They point us to our final home and destination, the place where joy is fulfilled and perfected. Or, as John’s gospel reminds us, when the bride and bridegroom are united, joy “is now complete” (John 3:29).
I love this image of joy as a path that we walk, for it keeps us from embracing a rigid “either/or” perspective. It isn’t that joy is found in the “stuff” of life – food, relationships, hospitality, celebrations – or in the presence of Christ, but instead to see each of these as moments of joy through which we can know and encounter the joy of the Lord in the here and now. We are invited to make every moment of every day a sacred entry into joy, to see every part of our lives as an invitation to encounter the Lord in and through the events of our daily lives.
If you desire to be a joyful person, long for the presence of Christ, for joy is found and made whole when it is fulfilled in him.
Prayer
Father, we delight in the gift of your presence, knowing it is where all joy is found, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
Consider the sources of joy you are experiencing in this season of life. How do they invite you deeper into the presence of Christ, and how do they find their fulfillment in him?
Related Reading
Psalm 36:8-9; John 15:11; James 1:17
Worship Resource
The Sing Team: Satisfied in You
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