Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)
Joy is something that’s often forgotten, but it’s powerful. It’s not just nice to have. It’s a necessity. Our verse today makes it very clear that joy brings you the strength you need in life. Without it, you can’t be strong against the stuff life throws your way.
It’s interesting that the Bible calls joy your strength, not prayer or God’s Word. We know that prayer is vital and we absolutely need to meditate on God’s Word, so why is joy so important when it comes to staying strong?
Think of it this way. When you don’t have joy in your heart, it’s the symptom of a bigger problem. Having no joy is a sign that you have not been growing in your relationship with God. You see, joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It grows in you as you grow closer to God.
I know that there are medical conditions that cause depression and anxiety, so I’m not talking about that right now. Take care of your physical and mental health, for sure. At the same time, you need to build your relationship with God. It’s the active participation of your love relationship with God that produces joy in your life, and this joy gives you the strength you need in life.
You can live the joy-filled life God has for you! You can have joy in the midst of the stresses of life by growing your confidence that God’s promises are yours and that He’s always leading you through. Nurture this relationship with Him by spending time with Him and meditating on His Word, and the confidence you gain in Him will produce joy inexpressible and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8, NKJV)!