“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” From Nehemiah 8:10
We all lose things. Sometimes frivolous things, like a piece of jewelry, and sometimes more serious things, like loved ones. When you’re dealing with the everyday losses of life, fighting the hard battle of deeper loss, or even just adjusting to the new normal during our unpredictable and uncertain times, rebuilding and
reclaiming the things God has promised is hard work. Anxiety and depression are more prevalent than ever, and we may wonder, How do I find a sense of joy, or even peace? Just like Nehemiah, we are blessed to serve a God bigger than anything we struggle with. When we turn to Him, we find He is where our joy lies. Because God is with us as our defender and caregiver, we can refocus our hearts and rejoice no matter what. We don’t need to seek answers from the world or look for peace in our circumstances. Instead, through pressing closer to Jesus, we can remember that the joy of the Lord is our strength, no matter what we face.
