Roy Kent and the Joy of God

A parable of omnipresence.

This week’s piece is a little bit different. It’s a fable about a discouraged Christian named Tom.

Tom was feeling the weight of life like it was a kid who’s just a little bit too big sitting on his shoulders. Money was tight for his family, he didn’t seem to be succeeding at work, and he had a couple of health concerns nibbling on the back (or front) of his thoughts. So his conversation with Josh was timed perfectly.

When they sat down for lunch, Josh knew that Tom was struggling. He’d known Tom too long and too well not to know.

“How’s it going, man?” Josh asked.

“Well…” Tom responded, breathing in then out, with depth. “Kind of having a tough time.” He sketched the contours of his troubles. “Sorry to unload on you,” he concluded.

“Nah, man, that’s why I asked,” Josh said.

“Honestly, I just feel tired and emptied out,” Tom said.

“I get it. Really, I do. You know I do.”

Tom did know. Josh spoke from experience.

“Can I ask you something about what you’ve been sharing?” Josh asked.

“Sure.”

“Is God here?”

Tom paused. He knew Josh well enough to know that this was going somewhere, and he thought he knew where. (He was going to be happily surprised).

“Yes, I mean, of course, God is everywhere. That’s Christianity 101.”

“Right,” Josh continued, “God is everywhere, in all that he is, all of the time. God is omnipresent. He isn’t mixed with creation or part of creation, because he is the Lord who is far above all things. Yet he’s in all things giving them life and existence. God is like Roy Kent in Ted Lasso, ‘He’s here, he’s there, he’s every-stinking-where.’ I don’t want to patronize you, but just remember what the Bible says. Psalm 139:7-8 says we can’t escape God’s Spirit. We can go up, down, or even retreat into our own hearts and minds. We can shut the world out. But we will always find God fully present everywhere, filling heaven and earth, like he says in Jeremiah 23:24.”

Tom nodded and mm-hmm’ed in agreement, figuring Josh was going to try to encourage him that God was with him. He didn’t expect much, though.

“Not only that, but we know that God has promised us in Christ by the Holy Spirit to be especially present with us and in us. That was the last thing Jesus promised, to be with us always in Matthew 28:20.”

Tom nodded and mm-hmm’ed again.

“And what is with God wherever God is?” Josh paused.

“I mean,” Tom said, “I can think of a lot of things, all of God’s power and love. All of his attributes.”

“Exactly!” Josh said. “Think about it this way. Psalm 16:11, which I know you know, says that there is fullness of joy in God’s presence. That phrase is actually only three Hebrew words: fullness, joy, and face, meaning God’s face or being there with his creation. First, throughout the Old Testament the word for fullness is used for dinner parties and feasts, with eating and being satisfied. It often literally means ‘fullness’ in the sense of having plenty to eat. With God’s presence there is plenty. More than enough. It’s a Vegas buffet with more options than you could eat in ten sittings. Second, in Psalm 16:11 the word joy is actually plural. It’s multiplied, quadrupled joy. The word joy often relates as well to feasting and celebration. Again, think of a party with plenty for everyone, just stacks and stacks of food and goodness. Third, the word “face” is used for God’s presence. While God’s presence is a terror to sinners, like when Adam sinned and tried to hide in Genesis 3, it’s a joy for his repentant and forgiven people. So here’s the upshot: is God here? Yes, he’s here by his attribute of omnipresence and by his gracious presence in Christ by the Holy Spirit. And is God’s presence full of joy?”

Josh paused.

“Well, yes,” Tom said.

“So,” Josh continued, “Everywhere you go, every situation you’re in, every place you sit or stand or sleep, every retreat you make into your own feelings, you will find yourself in the presence of God. And in the presence of God there is plenty and plenty of joy. Why do you think David could sing that his cup overflows in Psalm 23? Because he was hanging out before the face of God, where joy pours out faster than he can drink.”

Tom was starting to feel his heart fill up as Josh was talking.

“If you’re discouraged or afraid or sad, could it be that you need to open your eyes to the face of God in front of you, where there is joy by the bucket? God is here, he’s there, and if he’s there, joy is there. So go to God. One of our favorite theologians Herman Bavinck said it this way: ‘Going to God and seeking his face does not consist in making a pilgrimage but in self-abasement and repentance.’ Repentance might mean not that your situation sucks because you’ve sinned, but that you need to change your mind, your line of sight to recognize that you’re missing your Father’s favorable face in the midst of your situation. And wherever God is, fullness of joy is spread out for us to gorge ourselves on.”

“Man,” Tom said, “I’ve never considered it that way.”

"It’s pretty epic, when we think about it,” Josh said.

“Yeah, it definitely is.”