Lasting Joy in God’s Presence

ALMIGHTY GOD! so teach our hearts, that the sweet strong words of that great soul of old may be our words, and that into them may come some of the ancient strength and all the ancient sweetness, that we too may know what is meant by “Thy right hand.” Whom Thou lovest, Thou gatherest to Thyself; in Thy presence is fulness of joy. For all our earthly joys, give us this.

But, Lord! should we come to Thy fulness, how should we praise Thee? Our joys have been many, but our joys have been short; after the song comes the tear; after the smile, earth becomes grey; after the sunshine, life becomes gloomy, and men are tedious, and all things smell of the mouldiness of earth. We have never known yet the fulness of joy,—seldom the fulness of earthly joy,—seldom the fulness of human joy.

Lord God! Thou hast so ordered that when we have known it in its fulness, hunger hath come again, and thirst come back; the bread of pleasure we have eaten, the wine of delight we have drunk, but we have hungered and thirsted again. We have run, and travelled, and sought far, and wandered, and have come back; now, Lord God! we beseech Thee, teach us the words of Thy Son—

“I have water to give, of which, if a man shall drink, he shall never thirst again.”

Oh for the bread that leaves no hunger! Oh for the water that kills all thirst! Oh for the joy that needs no repentance! Oh for the pleasure that brings no sting! Oh for the songs that have no ending! Oh for the hours that have no sinning! Lord God! only they, are Thine. “At Thy right hand is fulness of joy.” Teach every one of us, saint or sinner, old or young, wise or simple, that we can have no hope but in Thy love. Of Thy justice we are sure, but our trust is in Thy love; weeping, sad-hearted and sinful, we cannot fly to Thy greatness, except the greatness of Thy love; as little children gone astray, as sinful children, we come back, that in the everlasting arms of Thy love we may be safe again.

Bring us by-and-by to the great Rest of Death, that there we may hear no more the vain babble of this world, and feel no more the grinding crush of earthly care, and the stinging things of earthly life. Take us to Thyself in Thine own good time; and when Thou takest us, so love us after, that we may be of those who shall be at Thy right hand, and find what now we seek, and taste what now we long for—“In Thy presence is fulness of joy.” Of Thy mercy hear us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.—AMEN.