“I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” – Psalm 16:8-11

Many Christians struggle with the fact that God promises unshakable peace and joy for His children, and yet they continue to experience circumstances that bring them sorrow and fear. The problem comes in the fact that we have misinterpreted the promise of God. We mistakenly believe that God has promised to rearrange all our circumstances so that the outcome of every situation matches up with our desire. We then believe that this power over our situation will bring us peace and joy. However, if we truly analyze this point of view, our peace and joy is still ultimately tied to our circumstances, and not to God. What God has promised us, through Christ, is a kind of peace and joy that rises above circumstances; a peace and joy that comes directly from Him. This is how the apostles could sing songs of praise in prison and rejoice when being persecuted (see Acts 16:25 & Acts 5:41). This is what Jesus meant when He said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.” And this is what the psalmist meant when he said, “Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Peace and joy in this life and in eternity come from having a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and walking with Him every moment of the day. This creates an unshakable peace and joy that can overcome any circumstance. Father, let us leave behind the notion that You are our supernatural servant who performs magical spells over our circumstances and, instead, let us passionately pursue a relationship with You that brings true, unshakable peace and joy into our lives.