“Sing with joy to God our strength …” (Psalm 81:1a)
Have you ever laughed so hard that you felt weak or been so happy that you cried? These experiences are a testament to the ways in which joy can be overwhelming, but I wonder: Can joy also make us strong?
Psalm 81’s call to sing with joy is paralleled in today’s reading from Nehemiah 8:10, which tells us that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” The passages offer us reciprocal delights: Our songs of joy to God as well as God’s joy in us.
When we set these joys side by side, the impact becomes clearer. Think of a child you have known and loved and what it was like to see them take their first step or learn to ride a bike, those first unsteady steps or wobbly pedals before they picked up speed. Recall the way their eyes lit up, how they looked at you with excitement, and how your smile propelled them forward with confidence.
God delights in our joys in just such a way, and when we feel God’s joy in us, we are made strong.
Ponderings:
- When has joy made you strong?
- What do you do when joy has left you?
- What becomes your source of joy that never lets you down?
Prayer
Father, I thank You for the joy of coming into this day surrounded by Your many blessings. Help me, when I am challenged or disheartened, to remember the joy of Your gifts, especially the gift of salvation through Your Son, Jesus. Let that be what others see in me.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
