Comfort of the Scriptures
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10).
A joyless Christian is a powerless Christian, both in maintaining his own life and in communicating help to others. God wants His joy to grip our hearts, no matter what state of things may surround us. “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” The Lord desires us to be “exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.” He desires to “fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Much joy ought to be connected with our salvation, and only broken fellowship with the Lord can rob us of that joy. When that happens, let us come quickly to the Lord in confession, praying, “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.” Hard circumstances and bitter trials ought not to nullify our joy in the Lord, for we can be “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing.” Therefore, “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (testings or trials).” “My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation,” and thus “with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation,” finding that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Joy when the heart is burdened,
Joy when trials we face,
Joy in the Lord’s great mercy,
Joy in Him and His grace.
Joy when trials we face,
Joy in the Lord’s great mercy,
Joy in Him and His grace.
References: Phil. 4:4; 2 Cor. 7:4; Rom. 15:13; Psa. 51:12; 2 Cor. 6:10; James 1:2; Psa. 35:9; Isa. 12:3.
The above devotion can be viewed HERE.
It is so true, that, for a believer, the joy of the Lord is our strength. When we are determined to rejoice, no matter what circumstances we may be in, we find strength to help us endure our own trials, as well as being a good testimony of the Lord to others, both believers and unbelievers, who are looking on.
It is very encouraging to see a believer who is going through difficult times, going on in the joy and peace of the Lord. When someone who doesn't know the Lord, see's a christian at peace during difficulties, even without words, this is a wonderful and very effective witness for the Lord!
As christians, we need to be determined that we are going to go through this life, day by day, rejoicing in the Lord, no matter what we are called to go through. "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24. We know that nothing happens to a believer that is not allowed of the Lord for some purpose or plan. We may not know why we go through some things, that is why we are told to walk by faith and not by sight. We must trust Him through it all. The more we "Look off unto Jesus", and take our minds off of our own problems, the easier it is to rejoice in the Lord. When we consider His love towards us, remember His death paying the price for our sins, and the eternity we have with Him in Heaven awaiting us, it makes it difficult not to go through this life rejoicing in the Lord! "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18.
If you are reading this and do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, be aware that there is no true, lasting joy apart from Him. Satan will do his best to deceive you with temporary joys that this world can give, but these fall far short from the true joy the Lord Jesus offers. Be not deceived, an eternity in Hell awaits those who do not acknowledge their sin, turn from their ungodly lives, and believe that Jesus died to pay the price for their sins. No amount of good works on our part can cleanse us from our sins, and bridge the gap between us and God. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." John 14:6.
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