I work in a city that recently went bankrupt.
It is characterized by poverty, crime, urban decay and blight.
It is by no means beautiful or a place anyone would really want to hang out. But there are pockets of natural beauty jutting out — islands in a sea of cracked and dusty concrete.

Despite the broken buildings and the broke and burned out people wandering the streets, there is beauty there. Green leaves, wildlife, water flowing under a graffiti covered overpass. What I see peeking out of the darkness, is a subtle, yet determined radiance.

King David knew something about radiance.

David wrote Psalm 34 in a period of intense affliction.

God had promised David that he would be King of Israel, but it hadn’t happened yet. Rather than ruling a nation, he was running for his life and being hunted like an animal. Separated from his family and friends and branded an enemy of the state, David had no where to turn, and no reason to hope. David hoped nonetheless and his hope was nothing less than radiant.

David knew his story was not unique.

In Psalm 34:19, he says “Many are the afflictions of the righteous…”

Anyone who is righteous, right with God, will experience difficulty. But those who look to God despite their afflictions and difficulty, are radiant (verse 5).

Something that emits or puts out a glow, a brilliance, a warmth, or a light is said to be “radiant”.

So what makes a person “radiant”? David gives us some clues in Psalm 34:

Radiant people bless God

“I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (v1)

This isn’t about positivity, or optimism. Positivity points out the nice weather over a war zone. Optimism says that maybe the war will be won yet, despite the lack of victory.

Radiant people have made their lives about worshipping and blessing God. It’s their mission and passion in life. When worship is the pattern of your life, that pattern continues despite affliction.

We bless God in hard times, by making all of our life, all of the time about His glory.

When life is about your glory, your projects, pursuits and pride, you will have nothing to say in times of disappointment or difficulty. When it’s about His Glory, you will just continue to do what you have always done.

Here is where the radiance comes: When a Christian bumps into difficulty and responds with their usual pattern of praise, it’s uncommon.

It’s the uncommon-ness of praise in dark days that radiates beauty and light.

Radiant people brag about God’s power

“My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;The humble shall hear of it and be glad.” (v2)

It’s normal for people to brag about themselves. It’s quite abnormal to brag about God’s power. In fact, it’s not just abnormal, it’s strange that someone would brag about God’s power when they are in the midst of difficulty.

It’s easy to brag about God’s power when He is clearly working and moving. Radiant people brag about and celebrate God’s power even when they don’t see God’s power working on their behalf. In fact, they brag about God’s power even when like David, they are seemingly abandoned by God. This is uncommon behavior indeed — but it’s an uncommon-ness that radiates and shoots forth light and beauty, giving glory to God.

Radiant people magnify the Lord

“Oh, magnify the LORD with me, ​​And let us exalt His name together.” (v3)

When a slide is placed under a magnifying glass, what was small and indiscernable grows large in our view.

As used here, the word “magnify” means literally to “grow”.

Radiant people through lives that are determined to bless God, and brag about God’s power whether they see it or not — cause the rest of us to grow in our understanding of who God is.

We begin to see, as they do, the brilliance and goodness of God at all times, in all seasons and circumstances.

Magnifying God happens best in the context of Christian community.

David says “Magnify the Lord WITH me, and let us exalt His name TOGETHER.”

We get the greatest magnification, the most brilliant radiance, when we as a body of believers, show the world around us, an uncommon beauty as we bless God through our shared life.

Hebrews 1:2-3 reveals the source of our radiance.

“…in these last days [God] has spoken to us by His son…the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…”

Radiant people have a life that is dedicated to blessing God.
Radiant people brag about His power regardless of the circumstances.
Radiant people magnify God together.

Ultimately though — radiant people, simply reveal the brillance of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

Jesus is the source of our radiance.
He is the blessing by which we can cry: “God is good!”
Because He has paid our debt, and showered His love on us, we can be secure in His love.
Because of Jesus we have every “spiritual blessing in the heavenly places; we are “chosen”, “adopted” and “accepted in the beloved”.

The key to being a person of radiance?
A life captured by the love of Christ, and forever determined to worship Him – individually, and in community.