God, my exceeding joy! (Psalm 43:4 KJV) Joy is a beautiful thing. Exceeding joy is a phenomenal thing. And the exceeding joy found in the Creator of the universe is – quite literally – otherworldly. What is the joy of the Lord? Simply put, it is the joy of being with Him. It is “exceeding” just because of who He is. Think of the joy of love when it’s right – being with someone who truly gets you, who knows your quirks, your tricks, your tender spots, and works with them, whose friendship feels as comfortable as your favorite relaxing wear, a love seasoned over many years. Now lift all of that beyond what you can measure. That’s His joy: everything wonderfully human – only exceedingly so. He knows you better, is always mindful of you, always present with you, and nothing – not even death – can separate you from His love. Meditate on that love, believe in that love, trust in that love, and you will find yourself caught up in the wonders of His exceeding joy. The best of human love is but a glimmer of His. May the One who does “exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) grant you His personal exceedingness this week – and with it, a joy that rises higher than circumstance.
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