Strength from God's Joy?

What does that really mean? It is a common verse quoted and batted around church families. It sounds like some magic formula, that we can have joy, God's joy, in every situation which will provide us with strength for every situation. But, while that can be how it is used when quoted, is that really what people experience? In addition, is it even being quoted in the way it was used in scripture in the first place? Let's take a look.

The verse is taken from Nehemiah 8:10 (the amount of times I've heard that verse quoted yet I have never heard where it was from). In Nehemiah, his mission is to help rebuild the walls and the city in general (2v5). It was part of restoring the remnant back to God. By chapter 8, where our verse is found, they had just finished reading the book of the law to all the people. Yep, the whole book of the law, out loud, to all the people, in one sitting!

Their response? They wept. Imagine, the book of the law had been forgotten, what God had done, God's promises and warnings, blessings and power. Forgetting and then remembering can be very powerful, it can lead to joy or regret, sorrow and hope all in one go. It was then, in that moment, that Nehemiah reminded the people that 'the joy of the Lord is your strength'. It was not a magic formula 'if I have enough faith, God's joy will magically make me feel better' it was more specific and actually more practical. So, what is the joy of the Lord?

In challenging times, the numerous trials that life faces us with, finding joy is really important, especially as claimed it gives us strength. Therefore understanding the principle of the joy of the Lord is essential. In short:

Nehemiah was encouraging the people to celebrate God

That's right, the joy of the Lord is basically celebrating God. They were at a new significant place in their lives, taking their identity more seriously, both in rebuilding the walls and remembering who they were and who God was to them through reading the book of the law. Yes they had messed up, but they were renewing their strength. They were regaining their identity in God and as a people. They were being encouraged in the fact that the joy of the Lord was their strength, they basically turned their sorrow into a celebration. Then we hear following verse 10 that they had a celebration involving food and drink and they did this 'to celebrate with great joy' (v12, NIV 1984).

This passage shows us what 'the joy of the Lord is your strength' actually means. It is about finding joy in remembering who God is, what he has done for us and knowing who you are in him and celebrating that fact. This is why the verse has a practical application because it involves actually having a good time in celebration and literally being joyful because of God in your life and your identity in him.

The verse 'the joy of the Lord is your strength' is actually something you are meant to do, not just believe. It is not a formula that you just need enough faith for to receive, it was meant to be an encouragement to actively turn from sorrow to joy.

If you want to live by that verse and draw from its power, then today celebrate God, who he is, what he has done for you and who you are in him. Start by getting into scripture and remembering what he has done for you through Christ and giving thanks. You are redeemed, loved, adopted, forgiven, given a new true identity, made a citizen of heaven, your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and so much more. Get into this and celebrate it. As it lifted the remnant of the Israelites out of sorrow, hopelessness and despair, the celebration of God in this way can lift your heart and mind towards living in joy and, from that celebration, then finding strength to move forward.

This verse is an active verse, it is a verse to be applied to your life not just believed. The joy of the Lord is not meant to be faked and God wouldn't want that but:

You receive the joy of the Lord, by celebrating the Lord.

Seek to celebrate God regularly in your life. Then you will find you have more joy, and from this, more strength to face your trials.