What is your response when you encounter a difficult situation?  Is God your first response or your last resort?  David in the Old Testament encountered a number of hardships in his life and many of his Psalms come from the crucible of adversity.  Hardship has a unique way of teaching us valuable lessons in life.  How was David able to overcome the challenges he faced?   David placed God first in his life,

I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.   (Psalm 16:8)

As you place God first in your life, you too can overcome the challenges of life.  The result of a life centered upon God is revealed at the end of the Psalm,

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.  (Psalm 16:11)

David identifies three benefits when you focus upon God.  The first benefit is knowing the path of life.  As we go through life there is often  a heartfelt cry, “How can I know God’s will?”  I discover that as I set the Lord before me, then He reveals the way I should take.  There are many paths for us to choose, but God’s path is a path of life.  This is the narrow gate that Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount,

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  (Matthew 7:13)

God not only makes known to you the path of life, but you will discover in His presence there is fullness of joy.  God does not simply provide a modicum of joy just to get by, but He provides you with fullness of joy.  Are you experiencing fullness of joy in your life?  If not, could it be you’re on the wrong path?

The final benefit that David enumerates are pleasures forevermore.  Synonyms for the word “pleasures” conveys the idea to be pleasant, beautiful, sweet, delightful, or lovely.  This same word is translated pleasant as the bride describes her bridegroom,

How handsome you are, my beloved, and so pleasant! Indeed, our couch is luxuriant! (Song of Solomon 1:16)

I want to encourage you that you can live above your circumstances when you encounter difficult times.  As you center your life in God and seek Him as your first response rather than your last resort you will exclaim with David,

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.  (Psalm 16:11)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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