September 22
2018
The Joy of the Lord
Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
The Hebrew word for strength is ma`owz which is translated as a place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold.
The joy that we have in the Lord doesn’t just give us strength to move through life, it actually provides a place of safety and refuge.
The joy that springs up from within, even in the midst, is not dependent on our circumstances, but on whom we are in Christ.
That joy, because it is not dependent on what is going on around us, can actually serve as a stronghold for us when we find ourselves in the midst of life.
It is a place we can look to for protection and safety when nowhere else looks or feels safe.
It is the place we can go to remind ourselves of the truth of whose we are and the fact that there is a plan for our lives, even when the facts of our circumstances seem to contradict that.
The joy of the Lord that lives within us, and springs up from within us, is the thing that will combat the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
It is the thing that will become the place we can run to, a strong tower, the reminder of who we are and what we have in the Lord.