EL SIMCHAH GIYL: God My Exceeding Joy

Wednesday 19^th November 2025, 0852hrs…

I couldn’t help but stop and reflect on God’s goodness to me in the season that has been. He has truly satisfied me. He has truly made me glad. It’s why I cannot help but write this ballad. I cannot help but cry out in praise. I cannot but bow down in worship before my King.

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You showed me the wonders of Your love in a somewhat unlikely location — a city under siege. Even when I cried out in despair and thought that You had deserted me, You heard my cry for help.

When my life was marked by such deep anguish and the sorrow within me threatened to consume me, even then You saw my affliction. You knew the anguish of my soul. When my strength failed and my bones grew weak because of my desperation, You lifted me out of the depths and set my feet in a spacious place.

In a time of great affliction, I have learnt of Your goodness. In a time of deep sorrow, I have experienced such profound joy. I have seen Your goodness, Lord. I testify of Your faithfulness, Jesus. How then can I keep silent? Shall I conceal Your wonderful deeds?

By no means! 

You have turned my wailing into dancing; You have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. Now my heart will sing Your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise You forever!

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I have found You to be MORE — more than silver and gold; more than the blessings I desire; more than the promises I long to see fulfilled; more than the happiness I’d have found had You answered my prayers the way I wanted You to; more than my achievements, my accolades, and whatever else feeds my pride.

In You I have found utmost satisfaction, utmost peace, and utmost joy (the terrible experiences notwithstanding). I have learnt to find utmost fulfilment in You, and to be content with the lot You have allotted me (even though it didn’t quite seem enough).

I have learnt that You are MY GREATEST GOOD, my treasure of all treasures, and my highest pleasure. I have learnt to delight in the portion You’ve so graciously allotted me. And to see it as good and pleasant (regardless of what the world tries to define as 'good').

I am learning not to let anything in this world compare with the joy I find in Your presence. You are my all-satisfying God. My supreme treasure. Shall I then forsake You for another — or grumble in discontentment when You withhold a blessing I desire?

By no means! 

I will give thanks to You, Lord, because You are GOOD, and all You do is GOOD. You are the very essence of goodness, for You do not need to do anything to prove or showcase Your goodness. That is just who You are — goodness itself. Eternally good. Infinitely good. Immutably good.

What a joy it is to rest in this simple truth! What a relief it is to remember this when my whole world turns upside down and all seems bleak! What a pleasure it is to joyfully sing of Your goodness and praise You with everything in me! What a comfort it is to the dying and desperate soul to remember this wonderful attribute of Your divine nature!

The psalmist at one point finds himself in that state of mourning and despair, and of feeling rejected and abandoned by You. But he remembers that You are his stronghold, and so runs to You, the source of all joy.

You didn’t just give him joy, You were his joy, his exceeding joy. Joy in such extravagant amounts as cannot be contained or fully expressed. Joy that lifted the cloud of sadness and despair threatening to envelope him. Joy that reminded him of Your goodness and caused him to burst forth in ecstatic praise. Joy that caused him to hope again in You (his difficult circumstances notwithstanding).

I too am learning to run to You, my God. I am learning that You are, indeed, my joy and my delight. My exceeding joy. Now I know that I can experience this wonderful joy in You in whatever situation life throws my way. I need not despair when trouble arises. I need not run and hide when my emotions are getting the better of me. I need not fear when sorrow plagues my heart.

I too can be sorrowful, yet constantly rejoicing. I too can overflow with joy while in the midst of very severe trials. I too can experience boundless joy in all my troubles. And all this because my joy does not come from answered prayers or supernatural miracles or unexpected blessings… My joy comes from You — my joy is You. Apparently You have a name that perfectly captures that (chuckles): El Simchah Giyl ~ God my exceeding joy. You are truly my joy, Lord. You are my exceeding joy (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡!!

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Psalm 43:1-5 NKJV

Vindicate me, O God,

And plead my cause against an ungodly nation;

Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man!

For You are the God of my strength;

Why do You cast me off?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!

Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill

And to Your tabernacle.

Then I will go to the altar of God,

To God my exceeding joy;

And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

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“Lord, thank You for this newfound joy. For the river of gladness that pours from You and now flows in me. Let me be undone by all that You are ~ by Your mercy, Your goodness, Your loving-kindness, and Your faithfulness. For the miracle of salvation, and the pardon I’ve received, let me forever remain grateful.

Let me rejoice in You for this wonderful gift I have in Christ Jesus, for the grace that You have so freely bestowed. Let my heart forever sing You joyful songs of thanksgiving. If not for anything else, then for the miracle of love.

Lord, You love me,

Surely You love me!”