The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength

The Joy of the Lord is your strength!

Throughout life, we are looking for strength at various times. To simply do the task at hand, to pass a test in school, to do a job, to win a race, and especially to go to a job day after day for extended periods. The difficult tests of life, in relationships, facing health issues, confronting differences with fellow man (or woman!), relating with spouses or children - these provide ample opportunity for us to need strength. 

In this life that we have, I am almost always looking for answers. How do you make things better? How do you solve this problem? How does this work? What is next? Why is that the way it is? Anybody else? Can you relate? 

What on earth is “the joy of the Lord"? Perhaps it would be better to ask “WHAT IN HEAVEN IS THE JOY OF THE LORD?” There is temporary joy to be had in many things. But there is a lasting and satisfying joy to be had in one thing for sure. 

"Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8.10

If God is real - and I absolutely believe that He is - then here is your answer. 

Paul wrote much of the New Testament, and in the letter to the Thessalonians he shared this.

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 1 Thessalonians 1.6

Paul was speaking to the local church about their participation with him in receiving the truth about Jesus Christ, about the love of God and what that meant for their lives. Just before the above sentence, Paul said this:

We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 1 Thessalonians 1.2-5

Paul speaks of himself and his traveling companions being examples to these people, and them being examples to other believers, of the joy, the hope, the faithfulness and steadfastness, and the powerful lives that they witnessed in one another - proof that the faith they had found was real and sustaining and life-giving!

For myself, what I have learned from the Bible often comes to mind as I search for answers - no matter what the topic. I would say that is quite narrowminded thinking, except that the answers to be found there are so often the best! 

There is a unity of thought, a holistic, well-rounded, and cohesive body of thought to be found in a grounded and centered faith based on Biblical truth. To be sure, there can be some seeming contradictions and paradoxes. But for these things that seem to have no easy answer, there can be a shelf on which these can be stored for answering later on. Trust what you know, and keep believing for answers to what you don't understand. 

So what is “the joy of the Lord”? Is it joy that the Lord - God, Jesus - has? Or is it the joy that we can find in Him, as we come to know and trust and love God?

God bless you! Have a great week!