“…..for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” – Neh. 8:10
As much as we might feel like David when he wished he “had wings like a dove” to “fly away, and be at rest” (Psa. 55:6) it’s not going to happen. God repeatedly tells us to expect trials. So since we can’t escape from them we must learn to endure them. And that is a serious struggle for which we need sufficient strength. The question is, where do we find such strength for the struggle?
Neh. 8:10 gives us more than a hint. It says “the joy of the LORD is your strength“. This assures us that we can do more than endure life, we can actually enjoy it. Sadly some folks think of joy as mere luxury. Their attitude is “it’s nice if you can get it”. They don’t understand the great importance and danger of not having it. Since the joy of the LORD is our strength not having it makes us weak and that is dangerous. Without strength we can’t bear up under trials, resist temptation, nor do our duty. Without the joy of the LORD we are sure to fail.
He who is without joy is missing one of the most important things in life and he will be adversely affected in every way. How then can you not be interested? You might not be concerned about it, but Jesus is. In His great prayer recorded in John 17:13 He said, “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” This is a joy that can’t be found any place else. And there is never a time when it cannot be found.
We sing “joy unspeakable and full of glory”, but do you really have it? We speak about the joy of the Lord being our strength, but it isn’t enough to just be able to quote the verse, it ought to become a reality. In the 1930’s Hitler used these very words as the motto for the Hitler Youth Movement. Obviously some people don’t possess what they profess. But for the Christian, the joy of the LORD is available to everyone who is yielded to the Spirit’s control. “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” – Psa. 32:11 – HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
