25 King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
26 No wonder my heart is glad,
and my tongue shouts his praises!
My body rests in hope.
27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
28 You have shown me the way of life,
and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’
(Acts 2:25-28)
Being a Christian and loving God isn't about feeling guilty. It's about being set free from your guilt and shame. God is full of so much love and joy. David definitely recognized this. He had his fair share of lament, but there's so much in the Bible where He describes his joy in the Lord's presence.
He will never leave you. He won't let your soul just "rot in the grave." Nothing can separate you from Him.
Notice in the last verse David says, "You will fill me with the joy of your presence." God doesn't want us to be miserable! Being with God no matter what your circumstances can bring you ultimate joy.
However, I must say one thing: Happiness and Joy are two different things. They can occur separately or simultaneously, but the two are different. Happiness is a temporary emotion that makes you feel good for a short time. Joy is an overall quality. Even when you have no reason to be happy, you have every reason to have that inner joy inside you. People will notice the difference on how y0u handle life's storms when you have the joy of the Lord.
He is always with you.
You will not be shaken.
Holly.
