Joy is our Strength 

One of my favourite songs growing up was one by Chris Tomlin, a classic - Forever. Now, if you've heard this, you know that this song edifies the Lord and His love which endures forever. 

Today’s passage speaks about the same thing, relating the joy and rejoicing in our hearts to the everlasting love that God has for us. 

Perhaps joy is sometimes overlooked because of how often we feel it, how commonly it surrounds us. Or maybe it’s not something we think as of fruit since it has different qualities to that of love, or kindness, or peace.

Sometimes we can underestimate the power of joy, believing it’s an add-on extra instead of something fundamental to our flourishing.

Nehemiah 8:10 says ‘the Joy of the Lord is your strength.’ and Isaiah 35:10 says ‘…and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing;  everlasting joy will crown their heads.. Gladness and joy will overtake them,  and sorrow and sighing will flee away.’

The Bible explains that the joy from the Lord is our strength, it sustains us through hardship and is a light to those around us. When reading about the purpose of joy in Christian life, I came across an article by ‘The Christian Science Monitor’, which explains that the joy that we receive is ‘a deep-rooted, inspired happiness.’ So, we aren’t always going to feel joyous, rather, we must find joy in everything we do because it is all ultimately from God.

Sometimes joy may not be commonly experienced. However, when we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our saviour, and are reminded of who he is, we will continue to 'give thanks to the Lord' (v34) and know that 'His love endures forever' (v34).