Can This Be True? (Daily Encouragement)
“When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” – Psalm 126:1
The joy described in Psalm 126 is a result of what God had done for his people. The joy described is one based on being restored, being brought back to who you were designed to be (Moody). They had a present joy because of what God had accomplished for them in the past: The Lord HAS done great things for us; we ARE glad (v/3). They had a “this is too good to be true” joy:
….this joy is not a matter of temperament (your natural predisposition), an experience that must be manufactured for yourself and other people (faking it), or something so deep that it is not really happy (where the smile goes down rather than up). Instead, this joy is a result of being “restored” by God (v. 1)—not happy because of your genetics but happy because of what God has done for you. This joy is based upon an objective, real, God-given restoration. And those who have this joy are “like those who dream” (v. 1). The ancient world, when it referred to dreams, did not, first of all, mean a daydream. They meant an actual dream, the sort of dream you have when you are asleep. So when the psalmist says this was like dreaming, he is comparing joy to a very good actual dream. He is saying that this joy is like that. This joy is so good that when you experience it you think, “I am living the dream.” Such is the joy that this psalm is talking about. – Josh Moody
When we understand what God has done for us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, our response is one of joy: “gladness”, “shouts of laughter”, “praise”. It’s like a wonderful surprise, a dream: “can this really be true” (v/1).
Each day we can build our lives on what we already have in Christ – forgiveness, reconciliation with God, new creation, security, one with God, sons and daughters of God, adopted, nothing can separate us from the love of God, the Holy Spirit. The list goes on and on. Dwell on the what God has done and let it stir in you a joy that leads to shouting, gladness, laughter and a “can this really be true” attitude – “I’m living the dream”.