The Mystery of Delight

I wonder how the passing of time seems so extremely slow and yet moves at lightning speed at the same time. It’s a mystery I doubt I’ll figure out in my lifetime, and I’m okay with it. Mystery is one of those things I’ve grown to accept about God. There are just some things, many things in fact, that I will never understand. Like how God reduced the infinite and lived in skin. Or what all the words in Revelation mean. I’m great with serving a God I can never fully grasp.

It is one of the attributes of God that brings me a sense of delight. Because there is always something new to learn and experience and think about. No matter how much time I spend getting to know God there’s always more. It fuels my curiosity. Keeps me returning over and over again to the Word.

I return to my favorite Psalm and remember my word for the year. The one I chose way back in January.

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1 NIV

The study of delight began with a definition. It means a high degree of gratification or extreme pleasure (merriam-webster.com). In biblical terms joy beyond measure. This word is sheer mystery to me. So is the directive James writes to his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Consider it all joy…

Because the last five months have been a joy rollercoaster.

I’ve been overjoyed in the celebration of my youngest son’s wedding and wrapped with sorrow in letting him go. I’ve cried buckets over losing my favorite dog, and rejoiced when the abandoned mutt who followed me home seemed content for the first time. There have been moments of great grief and times I could not stop laughing. It’s all an up-and-down, round-and-round, loop-to-loop ride that has me still wondering what delight is all about.

Is it a feeling or emotion? Perhaps a state of mind? Do I stuff the sorrow away or let the waves crash over me. Maybe this mystery of a word doesn’t depend on my feeling or circumstances at all.

Then it dawns on me James uses the word consider, and I believe he intentionally chose this word to point us in the direction of what comes next.

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:2-4 NLT

When I consider every moment of life. All of the joy filled moments and sorrow-full days as an opportunity to grow, then the mystery of delight becomes a little less confusing. Don’t get me wrong. It doesn’t make it easy. There’s no way to live a trouble-free life. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble,” but he doesn’t stop there.

Delight is discovering there is more to the story. More to living than how I feel about my circumstances. Delight is knowing in every moment of every day I can “take heart” for Jesus has overcome it all.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
–Jesus (John 16:33 NIV)

Click on the link below where you listen to podcasts and enjoy a Morning Meditation with Stacy on Psalm 1.