--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest joy is joy in God. This is…" description: "\"“The greatest joy is joy in God. This is plain from Psalm 16:11: \"You [God] will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/john-piper-255_eternity_the-greatest-joy-is-joy-in-god-this-is-p_278551.png" --- # The greatest joy is joy in God. This is plain from Psalm… ![“The greatest joy is joy in God. This is plain from Psalm 16:11: "You [God] will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Fullness of joy and eternal joy cannot be improved. Nothing is fuller than full, and nothing is…” quote by John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/john-piper-255_eternity_the-greatest-joy-is-joy-in-god-this-is-p_278551.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/john-piper-255_eternity_the-greatest-joy-is-joy-in-god-this-is-p_278551.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16f/john-piper-255_eternity_the-greatest-joy-is-joy-in-god-this-is-p_278551.png) > ““The greatest joy is joy in God. This is plain from Psalm 16:11: "You \[God\] will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever." Fullness of joy and eternal joy cannot be improved. Nothing is fuller than full, and nothing is longer than eternal. And this joy is owing to the presence of God, not the accomplishments of man. Therefore, if God wants to love us infinitely and delight us fully and eternally, he must preserve for us the one thing that will satisfy us totally and eternally; namely, the presence and worth of his own glory. He alone is the source of full and lasting pleasure. Therefore, his commitment to uphold and display his glory is not vain, but virtuous. God is the one being for whom self-exaltation is an infinitely loving act. If he revealed himself to the proud and self-sufficient and not to the humble and dependent, he would belittle the very glory whose worth is the foundation of our joy. Therefore, God's pleasure in hiding this from "the wise and intelligent" and revealing it to "infants" is the pleasure of God in both his glory and our joy.”” [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True joy comes from God’s presence, not human achievements; it is eternal and unchanging. **In simple terms:** Joy is found in God’s presence, not deeds Key Takeaway Seek God’s presence for lasting joy Themes spirituality theology joy Mood reverent hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal devotion - worship - pastoral counseling - spiritual formation Key Concepts Divine presence eternal fulfillment Practical Applications - Human pursuits can distract from divine joy Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing divine presence change daily life? - What practices keep focus on God’s glory? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Path of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-of-life/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [You make known to me the path of life; in your presence their is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/you-make-known-to-me-the-path-of-life-in-your-presence-their-is/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [Grace is the pleasure of God to magnify the worth of God by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/grace-is-the-pleasure-of-god-to-magnify-the-worth-of-god-by-giving/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [David knew what to pray when he lost his joy. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goddey-wilson/david-knew-what-to-pray-when-he-lost-his-joy-do-not-cast-me-away-from/) [GODDEY WILSON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goddey-wilson/) > [Our obedience is God's pleasure when it proves that God is our treasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/our-obedience-is-god-s-pleasure-when-it-proves-that-god-is-our/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The gospel of God and the love of God are expressed finally and fully in God's gift of himself for our everlasting pleasure. "In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-gospel-of-god-and-the-love-of-god-are-expressed-finally-and-fully/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The observation from the words that I would now insist upon is this, There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-observation-from-the-words-that-i-would-now-insist-upon-is-this/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [The essence of loving living as a follower of Jesus isn't in trying harder but in enjoying more. I'm not saying you can change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/the-essence-of-loving-living-as-a-follower-of-jesus-isn-t-in-trying/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines him to bestow benefits on the undeserving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/grace-is-the-good-pleasure-of-god-that-inclines-him-to-bestow/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/there-is-nothing-that-keeps-wicked-men-at-any-one-moment-out-of-hell/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [You don't bring glory or pleasure to God by hiding your abilities or by trying to be someone else. You only bring him enjoyment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/you-don-t-bring-glory-or-pleasure-to-god-by-hiding-your-abilities-or/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“With respect also to spiritual sloth, beginners are apt to be irked by the things that are most spiritual, from which they flee because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-de-la-cruz/with-respect-also-to-spiritual-sloth-beginners-are-apt-to-be-irked-by/) [Juan de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-de-la-cruz/) > [Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving. It is a self-existent principle inherent in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/grace-is-the-good-pleasure-of-god-that-inclines-him-to-bestow-2/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Thouqh they never believe I could do it all alone...,throuqh the silent night\_Sleepless moment\_Hectic day\_Occupied week...It's a pleasure God got my back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thouqh-they-never-believe-i-could-do-it-all-alone-throuqh-the-silent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The good pleasure of God is an act of the divine will freely and effectively determining all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-good-pleasure-of-god-is-an-act-of-the-divine-will-freely-and/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [Those who desire only the good pleasure of God abide in peace even in the midst of failure, for God has not told us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-philippine-duchesne/those-who-desire-only-the-good-pleasure-of-god-abide-in-peace-even-in/) [Rose Philippine Duchesne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-philippine-duchesne/) ## More by John Piper > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-feel-loved-by-god-because-you-believe-he-makes-much-of-you-or/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-missions-exists-because-worship-doesn-t-worship-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“If you hold a grudge, you doubt the Judge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-you-hold-a-grudge-you-doubt-the-judge/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Evangelicals are distraught over the state of America because they have not been taught that we're aliens here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/evangelicals-are-distraught-over-the-state-of-america-because-they/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is the highest moral act a human can perform, so the only basis and motivation for it that many people can conceive is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-the-highest-moral-act-a-human-can-perform-so-the-only/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-love-the-cross-because-it-makes-much-of-you-or-do-you-love-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Not to aim to show God is not to love, bc God is what we need the most deeply. And to have all else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/not-to-aim-to-show-god-is-not-to-love-bc-god-is-what-we-need-the-most/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-has-given-us-prayer-as-a-wartime-walkie-talkie-so-that-we-can/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Ignatius, when he heard the clock strike, would say, "Now I have another hour to answer for." (Eph. 5:16)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/ignatius-when-he-heard-the-clock-strike-would-say-now-i-have-another/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) [Explore all 803 John Piper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More Eternity quotes > [“I believe in forever, and that’s what you and I are. We define eternity. This may sound cheesy, but you make me go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/i-believe-in-forever-and-that-s-what-you-and-i-are-we-define-eternity/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [“Please not yet. Those are the three eternal words. Please not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/please-not-yet-those-are-the-three-eternal-words-please-not-yet/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [I think we all have a core that's ecstatic, that knows and that looks up in wonder. We all know that there are marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-barks/i-think-we-all-have-a-core-that-s-ecstatic-that-knows-and-that-looks/) [Coleman Barks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-barks/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [What does the future, that half of time, matter to the man who is infatuated with eternity?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/what-does-the-future-that-half-of-time-matter-to-the-man-who-is/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [You may have some friends that come and go, but having a friend like God will last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-tillmon/you-may-have-some-friends-that-come-and-go-but-having-a-friend-like/) [Alyssa Tillmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-tillmon/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Browse all 3,482 Eternity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The greatest joy is joy in God. 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