Learning To Be Glad

Psalm 40:16 (NIV) 
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!” 

Phonaesthetics is the study of the positive and negative sounds of letters in words, noticeable in words like “sludge”, where the sound of the letters exaggerates the meaning of the word. You’re probably thinking, what a random way to start a devotional but stay with me. To me, the sounds of the letters that make the word ‘glad’ don’t represent what it means; it doesn’t evoke the same emotions as words like ‘wonder’ or ‘joyful’. But in praying over this encouragement for you, I felt like I needed to remind us of the power that being ‘glad’ has, which I know I have forgotten. 

There are a lot of things we can feel about God that are highly emotive, that draw a lot out of us and engage us in a compelling way. Gladness has a calmness to it, a quiet contentment that is on offer to all who seek him. There are times in life when those more intense emotions increase intimacy with God - and it feels amazing. I remember when I was young and went to Christian festivals in the summer, and it was almost guaranteed that I would come home with this buzz and this passion to see Jesus move in my life like never before. But it would fade. Gladness is what you need for the rest of the year, the consistent and steady satisfaction in who God says he is and how he’s always at work in our lives. 

To be 'glad' may at times seem like a boring sentiment, but my question for you is, how often do you just seek gladness in the Lord rather than all the other exciting promises he has given us? Because gladness is just as good, and more often than not, more sustainable. 

Prayer - Lord, let me find a steady gladness in you today. Help me to seek contentment in you as a foundation for my faith.