The Joy of the Lord

I watched from the floor as my toddler nudged his marbles down the track. “Mommy play!” He pleaded. I couldn’t say no to his sweet request. I got up from the floor and engaged with him as waves of nausea washed over me.

I laid back down a few minutes later and wondered how I would have strength to combat my first trimester pregnancy symptoms while taking care of my energetic little boy. One of my favorite verses came to mind:

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

How can your joy give me strength right now, Lord? I prayed. Surely it was impossible to be joyful in my current circumstances. As I meditated on the words, I remembered another verse from Paul:

“Rejoice evermore.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Those two simple words carry so much power. If Paul could be joyful despite being imprisoned, beaten, and separated from those he loved; surely I could, too. I’ve always wondered why wordy, rambly, Paul decided to write such a short, random sentence all of a sudden, with no tips for carrying out his command. But maybe it goes together with the following verses:

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

What if bringing everything to God in prayer, and continually having gratitude are the keys to joy? I was struck by these thoughts as I lay on the carpet listening to marbles rolling. What if, instead of wallowing in self-pity, I thanked God for the precious new baby that I prayed for, and for the delightful toddler who makes me laugh every day? I could be grateful for the dirty dishes because we had food to eat, and for the messy house because I have a roof over my head.

As I thanked God for my blessings, I still had the same migraine and morning sickness, but my perspective shifted, and the joy of the Lord gave me strength to persevere. Proverbs 17:22a says,

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”

God doesn’t intend for us to power through hard circumstances in our own strength. These are opportunities to lean on Him, acknowledging our utter inability to do it alone. But woven through our humility must be threads of gratefulness and joy, resting in His power and lovingkindness, instead of grumbling or having self pity. I don’t need to create a hashtag for how miserable I feel. I need to thank God for my blessings, and tap into His strength.

What circumstances are you going through? Do you have a difficult job, a painful relationship, physical ailments, or sadness in your soul? Try thanking God in prayer for your blessings, and ask Him for strength to persevere.

Photo credit: Nabeel Hussain @Unsplash