His Joy Is Our Strength - The One Year Women's Friendship Devotional

His Joy Is Our Strength

The people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:9-10

Nehemiah wasn’t exactly home free when he instructed God’s people to dry their tears and go celebrate with a great feast. Although they had just completed the work of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, against fierce odds, Nehemiah still faced enormous challenges as he endeavored to reorder the people’s social, spiritual, and economic lives. They had been through a tumultuous time and still faced fierce enemies and many struggles. Having just heard the reading of God’s law, they wept bitter tears of repentance, aware of their great sin.

God knew that Nehemiah and his people would need strength for the struggles ahead and that strength was to be found as they learned to experience the Lord’s joy in the midst of their reality. Someone once said that if Satan can steal your joy, he will get your strength, your hope, and everything else. But if you refuse to let him rob you of joy, if you keep rejoicing in God, praising him, and looking to him, then you can’t be defeated.

The enemy intends to remove the joy from our lives and uses negative circumstances and thoughts, other people, and frightening news on television. That’s why Jesus told us that in this world full of tribulation and trouble, we can be of good cheer. He knew that although we might lose a few battles, he has already won the war. He has overcome the world (see John 16:33). In affliction or suffering, in good times or bad, the joy of the Lord is our strength, and his promise is our greatest source of joy: “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (John 15:11). Hallelujah! —CHERI

Father, forgive me for the times when I have let circumstances get me down and allowed the enemy to steal my joy. As I put my focus on you and obeying your Word, I ask you to restore my joy in you and let it strengthen me this day.

It is the consciousness of the threefold joy of the Lord, His joy in ransoming us, His joy in dwelling within us as our Saviour and Power for fruitbearing, and His joy in possessing us, as His Bride and His delight; it is the consciousness of this joy which is our real strength. Our joy in Him may be a fluctuating thing: His joy in us knows no change.

—J. HUDSON TAYLOR (1832–1905), BRITISH MISSIONARY TO CHINA AND FOUNDER OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION