Joy

Nehemiah 8:10 — “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances—on everything going the way we want. Joy, however, is rooted in God Himself. That means it does not change when trials come, when prayers seem unanswered, or when storms rage around us. The joy of the Lord is steady, deep, and unshakable because it is grounded in who He is.

The people in Nehemiah’s day had just heard the Word of God read aloud, and they began to weep as they realized how far they had strayed. Yet Nehemiah told them to rejoice, because the Lord was restoring them and showing them mercy. Their joy was not in their perfection, but in God’s faithfulness. That same truth applies today. We can rejoice not because life is easy, but because God is good, gracious, and present.

Joy gives strength. A weary heart finds fresh courage when it chooses to rejoice in the Lord. Paul, sitting in a Roman prison, wrote the letter to the Philippians with the theme of joy woven through it. His chains could not bind the joy of the Spirit within him. Likewise, no trial you face can steal your joy if it is rooted in Christ.

If your heart feels weak, lean into the joy of the Lord. Praise Him for His salvation. Thank Him for His promises. Sing of His faithfulness. Joy will rise, and with it, strength to endure.