Does your life have joy? In a world full of problems, suffering and stress, this is a difficult question. How can you have a joyful life when everything is falling apart? But the Bible offers a strong joy that overcomes the sorrows of life.
And Nehemiah added: “You may go out, and eat and drink the best you have, and share with those who have nothing prepared. This day is consecrated to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord will strengthen you.”
– Nehemiah 8:10
The Israelites were sad. All the people had gathered to hear the Scriptures and the priests had explained everything that was written in the word of God. Now, they were fully aware of their sins and were saddened by everything they had done. Sin had led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites to Babylon.
But Nehemiah, leader of the people, had another perspective. God was bringing his people back to Israel and they were now rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. They were being given a new opportunity. God was transforming the situation, building a people dedicated to Him, who knew His Word. This was not a day of sadness for the past, but of joy for the future!
Life’s circumstances may be difficult, with no hope in sight, but God is in control. For those who love Jesus, there is always hope for the future. Remember: true joy is in God.
The time to let go of sadness
The Israelites had many reasons to be sad, but a time came when they should leave their sadness behind. The day they heard the Word of God was a day of blessing, not a curse, so they could rejoice. The joy of salvation outweighs the sadness of sin.
We all go through times of sadness and pain. But in Jesus, these times do not last forever. There comes a time when we have to decide to set our eyes on Jesus. When we do this, we find the joy of God, which is more powerful than all of life’s circumstances!
When we compare life’s problems with what Jesus did for us, we discover that the joy of salvation and eternal life outweighs all sadness. Even when we are sad, we can be confident that God’s joy fills our hearts and will strengthen us. And no one can permanently take that joy away from us.
Shared joy
The joy of the Lord not only strengthens us, but also unites us. This is a joy that cannot be kept just for ourselves. It needs to be shared!
Just as the Israelites were instructed to celebrate and share what they had with each other, we too can spread God’s joy among the people we know. The joy of the Lord challenges us to love our neighbors and bring the Gospel to more people. When we are motivated by a joyful heart in Jesus, we are strong and have the power to multiply joy in our community.
Look to Jesus and find the strong joy that can change your world!
Watch this video to achieve true joy in God
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