“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
Years ago, I did not understand this verse experientially. Now I do. This is what the human soul cries for...life, love, joy, pleasure....
I chased counterfeit in the past. I tried to play the middle. The fullness of joy is NOT in the middle! In fact, that may be the most agonizing place of all.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17
"When we base our lives on the love of God rather than the thoughts, perspectives, and pursuits of the world, we position ourselves to live filled with the joy that comes solely through relationship with the Holy Spirit. " (First 15)
It may sound trite, but the truth is we CAN have joy in and out of every season because God never stops loving us.
One of my favorite quotes in the Big Book of AA is this:
"Half measures availed us nothing."
You will never really know the fullness of joy found in relationship with the Holy Spirit with one foot in and one foot out. You will never really know CLEAN pleasure and saturating contentment without a complete sell-out to God. The "goodies" promised to the Christ follower only come with.....actually following Christ, as completely and honestly as you can.
There's nothing satisfying to be gained with half-measures.
But you don't know what you don't know. Back in the day, I was "content" with half-measures. I didn't realize I was selling myself short, missing out on what Jesus was offering me. Only tasting, but never getting to enjoy the full meal.
No wonder being a Christian was often disappointing!
Tragedy ended up being my friend. Gut-wrenching, mind-blowing betrayals, loss, calamity....drove me to a deeper place in my relationship with God I never really intended to go....until it was either that or to psychologically crack and maybe even die.
If you are suffering, let it drive you to Him. Jesus really is the answer.