"Sing and shout for joy, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." This is the refrain we use for
today's psalm.  Life is often a valley of tears and we all too often experience the inadequacy of all that is - including our families, our life partners, our own health, our bodies and intellectual capacity.
Disappointment is built into the human condition. Nothing is completely satisfying.
 
But remember that joy is basically not just a feeling, but a way of being in this world. It's true that we can feel joyful at times, but when we don't feel joyful, that doesn't mean that we don't possess the joy that is the gift of God. Joy is much deeper than any passing emotion. It lives deep within our hearts, and when it is strong, it can't be disturbed by the passing feelings and situations in which we find ourselves.
 
Joy is the child of faith and love. It is the result of
believing that God, who is love, is always near, and