“Praise the Lord! How blessed is the one who obeys the Lord, who takes great delight in keeping his commands”
Into the Text
Whether we realize it or not, we all long for happiness. We search for it in so many places—through our accomplishments, relationships, and even in material things. Yet, how often do we find that the happiness our hearts desire is fleeting, leaving us wanting more? The truth is, we can never fill the deepest desires of our hearts with the things of this world. Yet, there is a different kind of joy, a lasting joy, that can only be found in the fear of the Lord and delighting in His ways.
Psalm 112:1 gives us a beautiful reminder of where true joy and blessing are found—in fearing the Lord and delighting in His ways. To “fear” the Lord means to stand in awe of His greatness and to live with a deep reverence for who He is. When we hold God in His proper place of honor, everything changes. Our hearts begin to delight in His Word. The emptiness of our hearts goes away as He fills that void, and we find the lasting joy we’ve been searching for. This fear of the Lord is not a fear of punishment but a life-changing reverence that brings us closer to Him.
Esther’s story shows us what it means to live with reverence for God. As a young woman in a foreign land, her life was uncertain, yet she chose to walk in obedience to God’s calling. She found her strength and purpose in seeking and honoring Him, and God’s protection followed. In the same way, when we live in awe of God, trusting Him in every situation, we will experience the kind of joy that isn’t dependent on our circumstances.
True happiness isn’t about what we have or where we are; it’s about who we know—God Himself. When we turn to Him and seek His ways, He fills our lives with a joy that can’t be shaken.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, help me to delight in you above all else. May my heart find joy in your Word, and may I live in awe of who you are. Instead of looking to the world for happiness, help me to seek you, knowing that true joy is found walking closely with you. Amen.