Pastor Tom Andersen

As we read through Psalm 16, we arrive at a powerful truth that confronts every heart. Real joy is found in the presence of God. Not in accomplishments. Not in dreams fulfilled. But in knowing and walking with Him.

Picking up in verse 7, David writes, "I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasure of living with you forever."

These are not the words of a man who has had an easy life. David knew hardship. He knew loss. But he also knew what it meant to be anchored in God, to be unshaken not because life was smooth, but because the Lord was with him.

When Good Things Become Ultimate Things

For many of us, knowing this kind of joy in God alone is not easy. It requires a surrender we often resist. I know this firsthand.

When I was younger, baseball was everything to me. I was a left-handed pitcher, fully committed to the sport. I tried out for the U.S. Nationals, earned a scholarship to college, and even got the opportunity to try out for the Kansas City Royals farm team. While I didn’t make those teams, I was told I needed further development, and that kept me in the game.

But somewhere along the way, baseball began to replace Christ in my heart. I found myself choosing the sport over Jesus. Choosing baseball over my wife. Choosing a gift from God over God Himself.

How many of us are doing that right now? Chasing something more than our spouse, more than our family, or more than God?

The talent God gave me had become my priority. And then, during fall ball, I threw out my arm. The pain was so intense that every time I threw, my hand would swell. I had to sit out and rehab, helping the coaching staff instead of playing. That was difficult, because playing was what I loved.

When spring came, my arm seemed better. I was hopeful. But when I threw a bullpen session for the coach, the pain returned worse than before. My elbow and forearm throbbed. My hand swelled so much I could barely feel the ball.

I remember laying on the training table with a bag of ice on my arm, realizing that my future in high-level baseball was over. At the time, I couldn’t make sense of it. But looking back now, it was in that brokenness that I found real joy. Joy that had nothing to do with my talent or future, and everything to do with God.

When Plans Fall Apart, Joy Breaks In

I didn’t discover joy until my plans collapsed. Until what I thought was my identity was stripped away. It was then that God showed me where true fulfillment comes from.

God can give us joy in spite of our deepest troubles. But sometimes, He has to let something break so He can show us something better. Sometimes a dream has to die so He can resurrect our purpose. Sometimes He takes away what is temporary so He can give us what is eternal.

Let me challenge all of us. Lean in and let God change you.

Let Him confront your priorities as a loving Father. We cannot claim He saves us and refuse to let Him change us. We cannot claim His forgiveness while returning to the very sin He rescued us from. Scripture says that returning to your sin is like a dog going back to its vomit.

We can't say we trust Him and still insist on running our own life.

David says he feels safe and unshaken because the Lord is with him. Do we feel that? Does God’s presence actually bring us joy? Do we rest in Him, or just acknowledge Him?

David isn’t denying reality. He isn’t detached from the difficulties of life. But his confidence and safety are found in God. His life is anchored, not shaken, because his trust is not in himself, but in the Lord.

Conviction is Not the Goal. Transformation Is.

Some of us love to feel convicted. We walk out of a sermon saying things like, “That one really punched me in the gut.” It felt personal. It hit home. But then… what?

By Tuesday, we’ve already forgotten what God was calling us to change.

That’s the problem. We feel something, but we don’t do something. Conviction without transformation is meaningless. Feeling convicted is not the same as being changed. God is not after moments of emotion. He’s after a life that is surrendered.

Don’t just be moved by God. Be transformed by Him.

Choosing What Lasts

We all make choices. Some of us will go home and watch football. Others will scroll or rest or chase a dozen other things. None of these are bad in themselves. But we must ask if our choices are leading us toward what’s eternal.

Are we choosing temporary pleasures over eternal joy? Are we choosing good things instead of God things?

We get to choose. We can let Him be our portion. We can let His presence be our joy. We can let His way be our way. We do not have to settle for a life God never called us to live.

We do not need to chase a good thing when we can have the God thing.

Choose God. Choose the life you were created for. And in doing so, find the joy of His presence. The joy David sang about. The joy that suffering cannot steal. The joy that never ends.

"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasure of living with you forever." – Psalm 16:11