Oh Baby: 14 Devotions for New ParentsSample

God's Joy is Your Strength

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance. PSALM 16:6 NKJV

Life is a compare-a-thon - like who can outdo whom with their highlight reel, trying to prove to ourselves (because really, no one else cares as much as we do) that we measure up to the ideal image of a family.

What if life is more about receiving the joy of the Lord for the situation we’ve been given? Consider the Israelites in Nehemiah. They had tried for years to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem with no success. Nehemiah was finally able to orchestrate the rebuild. And on the day the people gathered to celebrate, Ezra read Scripture publicly. The people heard all the ways they’d fallen short of God’s glory. They wanted to mourn and grieve. But Ezra commanded them not to. He reminded them that it was a day of celebration, asking the people to see the joy of the Lord as their strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Ezra knew that wallowing in their own shortcomings would solve nothing. Instead, he counted on God’s joy to sustain them. Calling on joy would cause them to think more like God, serving those who were in need.

Living in joy allows us to see life through God’s eyes. Where comparing and envy keep us from moving forward, joy allows us to leap. Joy allows us to love the people we’re with. Joy looks past dust or dirty dishes and sees the home that keeps us safe. Joy is what ultimately shines through our posts, making people wonder what makes our family different even though our circumstances may not be picture-perfect.

If you’re going to compare, then compare yourself to where you were a year ago. Compare yourself to who you were before you kicked that bad habit or before you chose that new, good habit. Compare life to a few years ago and ask yourself whether you’re headed in the right direction. Be thankful for where you are, what God has given, and especially that sweet new life you get to nurture. Then grab onto the joy and keep on going.

Prayer:

God, Your joy is my strength and I will live like I mean it! Teach me to choose Your joy over circumstances, whether good or bad. Teach me to find my worth only in what You think of me. In the name of Jesus, amen.