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Strengthened by Joy

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he (Nehemiah) said to them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve because the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.”

God wants us to have fun and enjoy fellowship with one another. The Jews who had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city had faced many battles, struggles, and hardships. They had worked hard alongside their families to rebuild the walls and faced enemy threats in the process. If all they ever experienced as a result of their hard work was toil, disappointment, and discouragement, their strength would soon fail. Why bother continuing in a work that has no hope and only brings pain?

As Nehemiah instructed, the joy of the Lord is your strength. Relying upon His power for the ultimate outcome will keep you going when everything in you screams to quit. Sometimes life can just hurt too much to continue on our own, but finding joy in our relationship with God will strengthen us to continue one more day. Spending time daily with Him in prayer and Bible study is a source of strength as we find joy in the One who died for us.

Has your road been hard and full of pain? Don’t give up. Find joy in Christ to continue. Spend some time in fellowship with friends, family, and other believers who strengthen and encourage you. Create some fun time. The joy of the Lord is your strength to continue until your victory is complete.

Have a blessed day!

PHOEBE Connections, Inc. is a 501(c)3 dedicated to enhancing the lives of widows by building relationships and helping them find new identity in Jesus Christ through serving others. We promote an atmosphere of fellowship, where the widow can connect with other widows to develop friendships and supportive relationships.