His Joy

….. for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10

God’s strength becomes our strong refuge in every season of life every day. Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The good news is that joy isn’t tied to our circumstances. It’s not about temporary happiness or momentary pleasure, it’s deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing and trusting God.  We have access to this unshakable joy because it’s rooted in His unchanging character and steadfast love.

In Nehemiah 8, we learn the secret to finding great joy. During Nehemiah’s day, the people were convicted of their sins and they wept bitterly and understood, they could never live up to God’s standard and would never deserve God’s redemption. But, Nehemiah being a prayerful and discerning leader reminded them that this was not a time of sorrow but of celebration.  It was set apart for worship and gratitude to God.  In their sin they had forgotten what God had done for them.  They needed to hear these powerful words: “The joy of the Lord is your strength!”

To remember this day, they were encouraged to eat choice foods and enjoy sweet drinks.  These were symbols of God’s abundant provision and blessings.  They were to share with the community which would encourage generosity and serving others.  This is a reminder of the Christian life which is full of ups and downs.  When we face tough times, it is not what we do that brings us joy but what Jesus did for us on the cross that gives us God’s joy.  This becomes our strength when we find ourselves face to face with challenges and brokenness.

When filled with difficulty, it is easy to feel like we’re drowning in a sea of despair which can  possibly cause us to lose sight of the joy promised to us.  God’s joy is not dependent on our feelings or circumstances, it’s based on the truth of who He is, our strength and shield. Psalm 28:7 states: “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving”. Our God is Sovereign!

With a personal relationship with God, joy becomes a deep connection that gives us the assurance we are known, loved and fully accepted by our Heavenly Father no matter what we encounter!  

Pray your response to the Lord personally, meaningfully and genuinely.

What’s one difficult thing God has ever asked you to do? What was your response?