Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of the Lord.
Would you say that you walk with joy on a daily basis? For many of us, there are a lot of things in life that weigh us down and keep us from walking in the fullness of the joy the Lord has given us. Situations change, expectations aren’t met, and sometimes life hurts all the way around. When we focus more on what’s going on around us than what’s happening inside of us, it’s easy to become discouraged or disheartened.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
This verse reminds me that regardless of how hard the situation is around me, I can walk with joy knowing that God is at work shaping my character and growing me into maturity. I just have to choose to “let perseverance finish its work” rather than give up or wallow in discouragement.
What is keeping you from embracing the freedom and joy you have in Jesus? What is robbing you of peace right now? We often feel so heavy under the weight of shame and guilt or trying to be perfect (I’m not perfect either if you makes you feel any better). We focus so much on things that suck the life and peace out of us.
Here are a few things that steal my joy (you, too?):
- Living under the weight of the past
- Shame and guilt of recent or past sin
- Approaching a relationship with God as a list of rules and regulations
- Trying to be perfect or earn God’s approval
- Feeling like I have to fix the past or control the future
I truly believe that God does not hold anything against us after we confess it to Him. Any weight or concern we put on ourselves for things we can’t change is not weight that God has put on us. To receive the freedom and joy we have in Christ, we need to start letting go of the past, stop trying to control everything, and start receiving the love and mercy God has fully given us.
Takeaway Action/Challenge: What are your trials and tribulations right now? What is weighing you down? What’s stealing your focus and causing discouragement? Take each of those things to the Lord and ask Him for the wisdom to handle those situations. Give Him the weight of it so you can begin to move forward with renewed joy and a healthy perspective.
