My Heart Greatly Rejoices

The harsh rhetoric and violence that have come to America in recent years has threatened to replace the American Dream with an American nightmare. It is not that extremism and violence are new or even new to the North American continent. The change that so many feel as a burden every time they wake to a new riot or new shooting is that such evil reappears with such regularity and is even promoted or condoned to an extent unimaginable just a few years before. Spiritually-minded people recognize that the root of these problems is the growing secularism and immorality that has accompanied the abandonment of biblical principles as the foundation for social mores. Therefore, they see the return of these values as essential to correct these problems in society. And they would be correct. However, Christians often forget that returning to scriptures is the answer for the anxiety that these problems can create as well.

David experienced tension and turmoil throughout his life, both before and after his coronation. Nevertheless, regardless of his age or the situation, David consistently turned to the LORD during tribulation. In the twenty-eighth psalm he wrote in heartbreaking fashion, asking for God’s help in bringing evil to justice—a prayer the the LORD answered in the affirmative (Psa. 28:1-6), but it is his reflection on the LORD’s answer that should give us pause: “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him. The Lord is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever” (Psa. 28:7-9). If we are to move forward in life with confidence and assurance—regardless of circumstances—we must have a heart that trusts God’s strength and God’s wisdom to handle it instead of our own designs. This is essential lest we become so caught up in the machinations of the world that we let society’s problems rob us of our joy. Instead, we should reflect in faith and worship in confidence. The LORD has promised to deliver us from this world, but not from all the headaches of this world. However, no matter what we face in life, our faithfulness to our God offers rewards in abundance, because He will care for us like no one else can—including ourselves.

My heart greatly rejoices—not because of where I live or who is in elected office or what is happening in the world. My heart greatly rejoices because of what is happening within me because of my trust in the Lord. I can rejoice at my spiritual growth despite temptation and trials. I can rejoice in the hope of heaven regardless of what is happening upon this earth. I can rejoice in the Lord always because I have been forgiven of my sins. I can rejoice in the peace that comes from knowing what truly matters and what does not. My heart greatly rejoices…when my heart is filled with my God.