Holy Bible Online 
Does your life have joy? In a world full of problems, suffering, and stress, this is a difficult question. How can you have a joyful life when everything seems to be falling apart? Yet, the Bible offers a strong joy that surpasses the sorrows of life.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
- Nehemiah 8:10
The Israelites were sad. All the people had gathered to hear the Scriptures, and the priests had explained everything written in God’s Word. Now, they were fully aware of their sins and felt sorrow for all they had done. Sin had led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Israelites in Babylon.
But Nehemiah, the leader of the people, had a different perspective. God was bringing His people back to Israel, and they were now rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. They were given a new opportunity. God was transforming their situation, building a people dedicated to Him who knew His Word. This was not a day to mourn over the past but to rejoice in the future!
Life’s circumstances can be difficult, with no hope in sight, but God is in control. For those who love Jesus, there is always hope for the future. Remember: true joy is found in God.
The Time to Leave Sadness Behind
The Israelites had many reasons to be sad, but there came a time when they needed to leave sadness behind. The day they heard the Word of God was a day of blessing, not of curse, so they could rejoice. The joy of salvation surpasses the sorrow of sin.
We all go through times of sadness and pain. But in Jesus, those times do not last forever. There comes a moment when we must choose to fix our eyes on Jesus. When we do, we find the joy of God, which is more powerful than any life circumstance.
When we compare life’s troubles to what Jesus has done for us, we discover that the joy of salvation and eternal life outweighs all sadness. Even in moments of sorrow, we can be confident that God’s joy fills our hearts and strengthens us. And no one can permanently take that joy from us.
Shared Joy
The joy of the Lord not only strengthens us but also unites us. This is a joy that cannot be kept only for ourselves. It must be shared!
Just as the Israelites were instructed to celebrate and share what they had with one another, we too can spread the joy of God among those we know. The joy of the Lord challenges us to love our neighbor and share the Gospel with more people. When we are driven by a heart joyful in Jesus, we are strong and empowered to multiply joy within our community.
Look to Jesus and find the strong joy that can change your world!
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