Day 1 · Joy That Lasts
The Joy of the Lord Is Your Strength
“Don't be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength.”Nehemiah 8:10
Reflection
The people wept when they heard God's word, but they were told that this day was holy — a day for joy. Joy, here, is not a denial of sorrow but a source of strength that runs underneath it. The joy of the Lord is not mainly our joy about God; it is His own gladness becoming our strength. It steadies us when our own resources fail.
A prayer
Lord, I so often look for strength in my own effort and run dry. Today I remember that Your joy is my strength — a gladness I do not manufacture but receive from You. Let Your joy rise up underneath my weariness and hold me. Even where there is sorrow, let me know the quiet, sturdy strength of joy in You. Amen.
Carry this with you
Where do you most need God's joy to become your strength today?