“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
(Nehemiah 8:10)

Somebody came up with a great concept of putting playrooms in doctors’ offices. Many parents bring their children to the doctor because they are sick and they need a doctor to see them. The playrooms are designed to distract the children from the pain of their problem until their problem gets fixed. The playroom gives them “joy” in a bad situation.

That is the way that God works. Even though things may not be going the way we want them to be on the outside, God has designed a “playroom” in our soul. In the midst of our circumstances and even trouble, His joy can distract us from our pain or discomfort, until He makes provision for our pain or healing.

Nehemiah stood before the people and gave them a strange command. He told them to ...stop weeping. He said: go, eat, and celebrate. Don’t be sorrowful, but be joyful for the joy of the Lord is your strength. They were to celebrate because God had brought about forgiveness and restoration.

THE CHARACTERISTIC OF A TRUE DISCIPLE

In John 15 our Lord gives five descriptive characteristics of a true disciple. One of those characteristics was joy.

Habakkuk, chapter 3, speaks of the impending judgment that was coming upon his people but his response was the following:

Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
(Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Habakkuk was declaring that even during this time of great trouble, he found the joy of the Lord.

WHAT IS JOY?

The Apostle Paul said that one of the components of the “fruit of the Spirit” was joy. But then, what is joy? Is it happiness? Happiness is based upon circumstances and if that is true, Habakkuk’s circumstance does not lend itself to happiness. No, joy is that inner peace and confidence, that in spite of my circumstance, I know that God will work out my circumstances according to HIS plan and will for my life.

Indeed, the joy of the Lord can and will be our strength even in difficult times. So how is your joy during this difficult pandemic time? Many believers would say,” I just don’t have that joy at this time.” Others would laugh and say, “Not much joy, but a lot of depression.” Others might say, “I want it, but I don’t know how to activate it in my life.”

HOW DO WE GET THERE?

In order to get to the place of joy in your soul, you have to be at peace. The author of Hebrews talks about entering into a day by day, moment by moment rest or peace. He said the way you enter into this “rest” is by claiming the promises of God in faith. Once you do that, you will have released your life and circumstances to God’s control from your desire to control the situations of your life.

However, in Hebrews 3 and 4 the believer is warned not to be like those who wandered in the wilderness because they failed to trust God and instead, allowed their emotions of anxiety to possess them. As believers, we must be honest before God about our fears and anxiety-- confessing them as sin and embracing His forgiveness...as well as His control.

Here is one other part of this divine formula that has to be embraced.

I Thessalonians 5:18 instructs me to give thanks in every thing for this is His will concerning me. Now, don’t misunderstand what this passage is saying. It is not saying that everything that comes into my life is His will. I can be disobedient to Him and bring consequences upon my behavior that God has nothing to do with. But it is His will that I thank Him in all things. Here is how I process it. I say, "Lord thank you for this circumstance in my life. I may not like it, but I know that you are going to use it for my spiritual good. Thus, I can fully trust you in this.”

When I reach that point in the process, I always have an inner joy that is even difficult to explain, but is very real.

So how about you today? Does fear or anxiety have you in its grip like a steel vise? Has anger conquered you? Do you feel like you have a suitcase full of pain? It really doesn’t have to be that way! Pursue His joy today.