Joy lasts longest when God is its source. Otherwise, joy is bound to dissipate. Even when we rejoice over good things, like the building of the temple, when we don’t recognize that God has provided these things for our good and his glory, we miss out on the bigger picture. The same God who stirs the hearts of pagan kings and works his glorious will to its glorious end will stir our hearts to joy as we fix our minds on him!
