Joyful Strength

Nehemiah 8:10 – “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

     Recently a very dear friend was affected adversely by the rain and flooding in Texas.  Like so many others she suffered tremendous loss of property; yet in the midst of all of the tragedy she has remained hopeful and in good spirits.  From the very first night of evacuation through the trauma of scavenging through her belongings after the flood waters receded, she has been a pillar of strength and resilience.  She is a true woman after God’s own heart and knows that while happiness may be fleeting, joy is a permanent state of being for believers.

     Our scripture today reminds us that our joy is steeped in our relationship with God.  Through the building and nurturing of our faith we are able to withstand the bitter and harsh outcomes that accompany tragic trials and setbacks.  When we become victims of circumstance or even of our own or other’s doing, we must remain consistent in our handling of our emotions and the situation.

   Our joy is rooted deeply in the Lord, like a ship with a heavy anchor that is secured on the sea floor.  No matter how the storm above is raging, the ship may be tossed to and fro, but it is held in place by the anchor which secures it.  Jesus is our rock and no matter what comes our way we can rest assured that our anchor will grip the solid rock and in that we can maintain our joy.

     Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn.