January 16

Everyone wants to be happy and everyone has found happiness to be elusive at some time or another in life. The root of the word “happy” is the same as the root for the word “happen.” Happiness is contingent upon what happens. When challenging things happen, happiness tends to vaporize.

God’s Word gives another perspective. In Psalm 118:14, 15, it says, “The Lord is my strength and my song and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing is in the tents of the righteous and the mighty hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength.”

This beautiful passage assures us that it is the strength that the God of Creation imparts to His righteous ones that brings them through the most challenging of trials victoriously. It is His strong right hand that gives them the victory. And it is not a mere by the “skin-of-your-teeth” victory! Indeed not! The righteous one who trusts in the Lord comes through the circumstances that threaten him singing a glorious song that anticipates the victory!

Not a dirge—a song! The Word promises that He gives a “song as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept and gladness of heart.” Isaiah 30:29. The person who trusts in Jesus will be helped by the mighty hand of the Lord whose valiant intervention will bring the believer through in victory but even before it does, the man of God will overflow in song—knowing that He who has promised is faithful! ”What He has promised, He will perform.” Romans 4:21