Jared was a nice guy when things went well, but the minute someone said something he didn’t like, or if stress overtook him, he was transformed into another person, spewing profanities and speaking rudely to whoever “needed it.”

His apparent joy was found in the right circumstances. But God tells us in this text that joy and gladness are found in Him.

Here we find that both light and gladness are sown for those who are righteous and upright in heart.

Think a moment about the properties of light. It illuminates the dark corners of life. Seeing our flaws in those dark places may not be a joy-filled experience, but knowing what to pray about and Who is able to do something about them is cause for gladness.

Light creates a spectrum of beautiful colors when it rains on our parade. God comforts us and shows us how He can make something beautiful out of our trials and disappointments.

Light lasers out a tumor that could cause death. And when the laser beam shines on what will only hurt and kill, we find the grace of God in the cutting.

God, the Creator of light, is telling us to focus on Him, to thank Him for His work in and through us. In this righteous exercise, we will find gladness in God!