You Can’t Have My Joy
Nehemiah 8:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
10 Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the
sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this
day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy
of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.
Over the past few weeks, I have
received several phone calls and text messages of individuals that I know that have
been experiencing challenging days, weeks, and months and for some it seemed
the trials of last year were attempting to make their way into this year. My heart grew concerned because those seemed
to be zapped of their joy and the worry and the frustration of their
circumstance had almost fully taken over in some instances. I prayed with, encouraged them in the word and
to live and not die and to have faith and confidence in God that He could and
would change what seemed to be situation that were sent to derail, defame,
depress and diminish them in some way. I
knew full well what they were going through for I have been in their place more
than once in my life, knowing the sting of these moments and the questions that
may have been arising in heart and mind, I did not taking being there or
praying for and with them lightly. I
remember that getting my joy back and keeping my praise and worship intact was
often the only way that I made it through these places and did not lose hope or
my mind.
It is often when we see
circumstances in our natural manifest that seem to be beyond our control, we
get caught there as a deer gets caught in the headlights of a car and all we
see are those circumstances coming at us, about to overtake us and we begin to
brace for the worse allowing ourselves to be taken in and taken over by the people
who bring drama, lies, deceit, confusion; the financial woes and the health
issues and whatever else concerns our hearts and lives in these times our joy
goes right along with our focus. We
become consumed and heavy laden, because God no longer is bearing us up, we are
attempting to shoulder things that we do not have the strength alone to
carry. That is why it is imperative, not
to lose our focus on God, our belief in His ability and His limitless power and
infinite wisdom, because it is in Him, through the faith that we have in His
abilities and His love for us that overwhelming joy resides. It is within that joy that God provides, that
His joy permeates and infuses us to be able to stand and to keeping going
regardless of who is saying what, doing what or what has or has not happened. Many years ago when my grandmother was alive,
I did not understand that in the midst of her struggle she always had joy and
she always had courage and strength and a word of praise and thanksgiving upon
her lips. It was not because she was
perfect, but she was impassioned about God, she believed His word and believed
that He truly was a rewarder of them that diligently sought after Him.
Today may not be a day that all is
perfect and that everyone loves you or even likes you. Nor could it be a day that
God has stayed the hand of the enemy against you, but remember it is in our
focusing on God, believing in Him and His word and not losing the joy that is
in knowing Him, that we can have the strength to face today, tomorrow and the
next day. It is this joy that provides
us the strength in the face of our enemies that we can still smile and bless
them, even when they seek to destroy us, because we understand, that vengeance is
the Lord’s and His repayment will far exceed anything that they attempt to do
to us. Don’t let anything or anyone
steal, or take your joy, for truly the joy that God has afforded you is your
strength, because God has sanctified it unto you, for just these purposes!
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