Finding Pleasure, Seeking Life – God Provides Pleasures Forever

http://bible.com/100/psa.16.11.NASB

It’s so easy when you see all the bad in the world, the unborn being killed, the bodies of children washing ashore, babies born with heart defects, exhausted mothers, people loosing jobs, to wonder if you should even be desiring pleasures and joy. But to God, pleasure and joy are promises, not frivolities.  They are his provisions
What I really notice in the verse is that we aren’t to seek pleasures and joy. God doesn’t say he will show us the path if pleasure and joy. He will show is the path of life. These other things are just a result of finding Him.
So as I go to sleep and try to prepare my heart for the onslaught of evil, stress and trouble tomorrow, I want to keep in my mind to look for the path of life to lead me through all my daily events.
We are the light of the world. We have the hope of the gospel. Not only is it OK to be joyful in the midst of troubles, the world needs to see our hope. That is why we should always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that lies within us.
Of course, we should rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn. But also, we should never despair, for we have a glorious hope and future.