Choosing Joy

Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”     Nehemiah 8:10 ESV

I have not been feeling very strong of late – weak and weary, yes, but not strong.  I also have not been feeling all that joyful.  I have been discouraged, frustrated, disappointed, depressed even, but I have not been experiencing much joy.  As the Lord pointed out to me a few weeks ago through my pastor, there is a strong correlation between joy and strength.  It is no wonder that I am weak and weary when I am failing to walk in joy!

Like many, I often muddy the lines between happiness and joy.  The words are often used interchangeably, but they are two distinctive conditions.  Happiness is “dependent on” while joy comes “in the midst of” or “in spite of.” 

Happiness is, in fact, a feeling.  We experience happiness based on circumstances and events and occasions.  “Happy birthday!”  “Happy anniversary!”  “Happy holidays!”  “Happy Friday!”  These are not just friendly acknowledgements of special days.  The idea is that these special occasions should (and most often do) produce in us good feelings based on memories, circumstances, gifts, and celebrations.  Happiness feels good. 

But happiness is fleeting.

The celebration ends.  The guests leave.  The weekend is over.  The Christmas tree comes down.  And the aftermath often feels like a letdown.  That good feeling is gone, and reality sets back in.  Life can weigh heavily and happy feelings wane.

But joy – joy is different.  It’s deeper.  And it is so much more than just a good feeling.  But its absence is not simply a bad feeling.  Sadness is not the opposite of joy.  I think perhaps weariness or emptiness would be a more apt description. 

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”  I’ve heard this phrase (and variations of it) a lot.  It’s a common theme in Christian music, particularly in songs of praise and worship.  But when I searched the Scriptures for the phrase, I was surprised at its origins…

Nehemiah was talking to the Jews who had returned to Israel following the Babylonian exile.  The people were gathered to hear the reading of the Law, and their response to what they heard was both worship (v.6) and weeping (v.9).  While certainly the people had reason to weep, recognizing how they had failed at keeping the Lord’s commandments, this day was intended to be a day of celebration.  It was a day to remember the goodness of God. 

And so, the people had a decision to make.  They could continue to weep, or they could celebrate.  

It was apparently as simple as making a choice. 

And they chose to feast and to celebrate.  As they continued their celebration in the days that followed, the people sent leaders to continue to study the Law.  These leaders found instructions for celebrating the festivals God had commanded, and so the initial celebration led to another celebration, then another assembly, and ultimately to a renewed commitment to follow the Lord.

And so if, in fact, the joy of the Lord is the source of strength, then the answer to weariness must be, quite simply, joy.  And if joy is a choice, why have I been choosing to stay stuck and tired?  

So, in the pattern of the returning exiles, it is time to remember the goodness of God.  The God who walked with us through 2020 also stayed with us through 2021 and 2022.  And though these have been some crazy and often difficult years, the Lord has not abandoned us.

Could it be that in 2023, the renewed sense of hope and strength we are craving will be found in simply allowing ourselves to choose to experience joy?  Sure, we’ve been through some rough years.  Definitely, I have not walked in faith through all of the “stuff” that has come my way.  I have worried and stressed and been irritated and angry and afraid and all kinds of things that come with faithlessness.  But I’m tired of being tired! 

I don’t have to continue feeling weak and defeated when I’ve been given access to the Source of strength.  And neither do you.

Remember the goodness of God.  When worry comes knocking, let faith answer the door.  With gratitude and worship, 2023 could be the year that weariness gives way to joy.

…Just a thought…