No one is attracted to a grumpy christian! Whether it is the “Church Lady” on Saturday Night Live, or the Reverend I. M. Jolly on Scottish Television (who ironically was always on the brink of despair), the secular world only perceives them as objects of humor at best or cause for scorn at worst. We need to be reminded that humanity was created not merely to obey God, but to enjoy Him.
This conviction stands at the heart of Christian faith and is beautifully summarized in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” And Scripture affirms this truth, not as abstract theology, but as lived experience. David proclaims in Psalm 16:11(NLT), “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Joy, pleasure, and presence are not peripheral to faith; they are central to the life God intends for His people.
From the beginning, God designed human beings to find their deepest satisfaction in Him. We were created to delight in His goodness, to rest in His provision, to marvel at His creation, and to be secure in His steadfast love. Scripture repeatedly describes God not only as holy and sovereign, but as gracious, generous, and emotionally present. “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Psalm 145:8, NLT). Enjoying God flows naturally from knowing Him as He truly is.
The experience of enjoying God has profound implications for spiritual freedom. When enjoyment is absent from our relationship with God, we instinctively seek it elsewhere. We were not created to live without pleasure, joy, affection, or meaning. Ecclesiastes acknowledges this reality when it says, “God has planted eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, NLT). That longing for fullness is not sinful; it is God-given. Sin enters when we look to temporary substitutes to satisfy an eternal appetite.
Many believers assume that sin thrives because of insufficient discipline, as though the solution were simply greater restraint. While Scripture affirms the importance of self-control, it also reveals that transformation occurs most deeply at the level of desire. Proverbs 27:7 (NLT) observes, “A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry”. When the soul is nourished by God’s goodness, the allure of lesser pleasures loses its power.
True freedom from sin emerges as enjoyment in God becomes a daily rhythm rather than an occasional experience. David writes, “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me” (Psalm 13:5, NLT). His joy is rooted not in circumstances, but in relational assurance. Likewise, Psalm 63 captures this experiential delight: “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you… Your unfailing love is better than life itself” (Psalm 63:1, 3, NLT). Here, enjoyment is not shallow happiness but deep soul satisfaction.
When our longing to be fully known and fully loved is met in God, we stop demanding that fulfillment from people or possessions. “The Lord your God is living among you… He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears” (Zephaniah 3:17, NLT). To be delighted in by God reshapes how we live, love, and pursue joy. Knowing that we are wanted by our Creator allows us to rest rather than strive.
The New Testament continues this invitation into experiential enjoyment. Jesus tells His disciples, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11, NLT). Joy is not the reward of obedience alone; it is the very environment in which obedience flourishes. Paul echoes this truth when he writes, “For the Kingdom of God is… a life of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17, NLT).
Psalm 34:8 offers a final, compelling invitation: “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Enjoyment in God requires intentional attention. It involves slowing down, resting in His presence, receiving His love, and allowing His goodness to satisfy the deepest longings of the heart. As we learn to enjoy God, He gently draws us closer to Himself and loosens our attachment to the fleeting pleasures of the world. In Him, joy becomes not only an experience, but a way of life.
Blessings on you and yours,
Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org