Finding Strength Through Joy

In Nehemiah 8:10, we see this phrase that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Have you ever wondered what that phrase means? When it came to the day of Nehemiah’s time the people were sad over their separation from God because of their sin. In all of this, they had forgotten all that God had done for them. Therefore, Nehemiah reminded them that they can find strength in the joy of the Lord!

We see this concept of joy throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, it is seen through a religious emotion. Including the feeling of excitement which can be shown through expressions of leaping, shouting, and singing. All these are natural outcomes of our connection to God. In Psalm 16:11 He “makes known to us the path of life; in His presence there is fullness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures forever”. In Psalm 118:24 it states, “this is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it”. Furthermore, the New Testament displays joy as the appropriate response of the believer to the ‘good tidings of great joy’ in Luke 2:10, which is a part of the gospel. John 15:11 encourages us, that the things in which Jesus has spoken brings about joy in us and all its fullness. John 16:21-22 informs us that even amid pain our hearts can rejoice, and no one will take our joy away from us. And in 1 Peter 1:8-9 declares that we can rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, because of what Christ has done for us; receiving our faith and the salvation of our souls.

Let me encourage us with three things. First, our joy rests on God’s joy. The reality is that in our earthly definition of joy we find that we aren’t happy unless we have stuff, are receiving gifts, or feel like we belong to a group. Real joy is only found in God himself. May we see the truth of this, embrace it, and allow our lives to be filled with an eternity of joy. Second, God really does delight in us. God isn’t angry with us. A man by the name of Henry Donald Maurice Spence (1836-1917) said, “God is so joyous that he finds joy even in us”. Lastly, the happiness of God is all the strength we need. We have no real hope of joy or strength outside of the Lord. God does not give us any joy outside of the joy that is found in Himself. Which means, God’s happiness is our strength. This is where we find our strength: for life, for pain, for trials, for marriage, for child-raising, for missions, for everything. The strength we need for this life is found in the joy of the Lord.

As in the days of Nehemiah, we are no different, so many times, we struggle through those moments in life relying on our own strength not realizing that rejoicing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ above all, we as believers, can be grateful for the earthly joys with which God has blessed us. We forget that it isn’t what we do that brings us joy. Instead, it is what has been done for us that allows us to say the sweet phrase the joy of the Lord is our strength! Have you ever thought about what it would feel like to be separated from the people you are connected to? The idea of not having them in our lives is painful. This is how God feels about us. As we are pushed and pulled in so many directions survival often becomes the norm, and joy is left for another day. In these moments take the time to remember that the secret of joy isn’t found in ourselves but comes from our connection to the Lord and find strength in that today.

Jason
GA JOY Crew Leader/ Production Assistant