The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength
This amazing truth is found in the book of Nehemiah in what may seem an awkward situation. The walls of Jerusalem have just been rebuilt. This was intensely difficult considering some of the walls are almost 4 stories high.
The Lord put a burden on Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild Jerusalem, the city of his fathers. He worked for the “leader of the world”, King Artaxerxes, as his cup bearer. Imagine, a king with “tax” right in the middle of his name. Anyway, it was a job of great responsibility and privilege. Nehemiah petitioned the king and was granted not only permission to rebuild the city but the king provided safe passage and protection along with lumber and provision for the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.
As Nehemiah started working on the city he ran into many struggles. Yet he persisted. He faced mockery, conspiracy, threats of force, deceit, slander and treachery. He continued to seek after God in prayer and then set his hand to action with singleness of mind until the work was completed. In an unbelievable 52 days the walls were rebuilt! “When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” (Neh. 6:16)
Then Ezra the priest and the Levites read the word of the law and explained it to the people of the city. “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Neh. 8:9-10)
Have you felt like the walls of security have been torn down around you? Are there areas in your life that persist in bringing struggles both externally and internally? Do you feel that in order to succeed you have to work with one hand, while holding your defenses in the other? You are not alone. Nehemiah pressed through the struggles and trials before him. He stood firm even when others would have quit and run in fear. With perseverance and faith in what God had led him to do he completed the task, yet not in his strength alone. Notice that first Nehemiah prayed, then he acted. It was the Lord who first put it on Nehemiah’s heart and it was the Lord who accomplished the work for the people. Nehemiah didn’t sit and wait for everything to come miraculously together, though. He made a plan with God’s help and set his hand forward to accomplish it.
During this season we also can be single minded, setting our hearts to find strength in the “Joy of the Lord” no matter our circumstances. We do have a choice in how we respond to our daily challenges. Can we maintain our relationship with God, with a grateful heart, as Paul encouraged the Philippians to do? “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Where is your strength? Is it in your own efforts, or in God who created the universe with all its wonders? It really is the “Joy” set before us.