April 10

yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! — Hab 3:18 BSB

If, while passing through this wilderness of life, we feel even one drop of true joy, one moment of genuine happiness, it must come from only one source—the manifestation of Christ to our souls. This joy may be fleeting—we may have to look back through the years to find it. Doubts and fears may cloud our minds, making us question whether we ever truly rejoiced in Christ or if our joy was the fleeting “joy of the hypocrite” that perishes. Yet, we are brought to this point—we can find true joy and peace in Him alone. Sin, the world, and the fleeting pleasures of time and sense, business, amusement, or so-called pleasure now offer no lasting joy. There is an aching void, a feeling of emptiness and misery attached to everything short of divine communications of mercy, favor, and love. So, even if we cannot always say that we rejoice greatly in the Lord at all times and in all circumstances, we can come to this conclusion—we can rejoice in no one and nothing else. We can find true pleasure in nothing else. One smile from the Lord, one word from His lips, one momentary breaking forth of His light and favor brings a joy that nothing else can give.