For the JOY of the Lord is MY Strength!

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah, Nehemiah 8:10, NIV)

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Blessings to you… you who are blessed mightily of the Lord. Today is going to be a GREAT day for you!

Today’s inspirational short comes from the words of Nehemiah, who found himself and his people struggling to get back to Israel (the land of their forefathers)… after their people had been seized and sent into exile by the great Persian empire.

Nehemiah had gained permission from the Persian king to go back to Israel and go back to his homeland… and rebuild the walls that surrounded the city of Jerusalem. Walls in those days were important, because it helped the ancient cities of those days stay protected against enemy invaders.

Once Nehemiah and a small band of brothers who accompanied him reached Jerusalem after a long, perilous journey through the desert… the fight didn’t end there, it just began. People who were supposed to be Nehemiah’s friends, people who were supposed to be on his side, even people who were supposed to be his brothers turned against him… and plotted to have him fail at his attempt to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

It was pretty much civil war in that camp!

But isn’t it funny, how in the midst of a mess… and in the midst of the trials in life that we sometimes find ourselves in… how God can somehow show up… and make a way of escape for us?

Nehemiah and most of his people were on a mission of God to accomplish a purpose (rebuild the walls)… and were rightfully disappointed, perplexed and frustrated by everything that was happening to them… by people who were supposed to be close to them!

But in spite of the fact that they had every reason to be sorrowful, sad and dismayed… Nehemiah summed it up perfectly when he stated to them the following:

“This day is holy to OUR Lord. Do not grieve, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength!”

…and I repeat these words back to you! Do not grieve, whatever you are going through and whatever you are facing. Know that even in your own physical weakness and tiredness that you may be feeling mentally… you can lean on God, you can depend on Him.

Why? Because the JOY of the Lord, is your STRENGTH!

Be blessed and have a SUPER day today