The Inspiration Cafe Blog: The Joy of the Lord is Your Strength!

[Adele M. Gill]

Recently, I met an amazing, very talented, young musician. From his awesome stage persona to his heartfelt, upbeat musical lyrics to his personal conversations, everything about him seemed joyous, and I knew right away that the joy of the Lord was his strength.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10

There is a big difference between happiness and joy. Sure, all of us have seen and experienced happiness in our lives in so many ways. Have you ever personally experienced or met someone who has contagious joy like my new friend? If you have, you will never forget the experience...

Happiness is most often a fleeting, personal experience you have when you celebrate an event, revel in a new relationship, or experience something enjoyable. By all accounts, happiness is a temporary state. Joy, however, though similar, is more lasting, and enduring, and is a deep rooted faith experience. To the naked eye, the two seem to be very similar, but consider this truth: The joy of the Lord is your strength. 

Joy beckons you to put aside all judgement of others, all heavy burdens, all skepticism, all hesitation in which way you should go, replacing it with a childlike trust that all is well, and belief that God is in control. It allows you to fully experience sunrises and sunsets with complete abandon, and awe in God's creation.With joy, patience and persistence, blessed discernment is often revealed that is able to swiftly simplify issues with unsurpassed clarity. With joy comes the understanding that there is strength in weakness, and weakness in strength...Best of all, with discernment, a fruit of joy, comes extraordinary trust, and strength in the Lord, in all things!

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Adele M. Gill 2013  Copyright