Gladness

You have placed more gladness in my heart than when their grain and new wine overflows.

Psalm 4.7

David revels in massive joy. This joy is divine (you have placed); internal (in my heart); abundant (more gladness than); and independent, because he  implies 'their' gladness is dependent and based solely on their circumstances (when their grain and new wine overflows).

Their gladness comes because their income tax return has been finished or their indigestion is cured or their harvest is immense. David has a gladness in the midst of trouble, a gladness that trouble cannot destroy or snuff out.

(Dale Ralph Davis)

I have felt really challenged by this over the past month. With various disappointments, struggles, and generally finding we're in one of the hardest seasons we've had here, I've been led to question whether my gladness is based on circumstances, or whether it is something deeper, more secure and abundant than that.