Joy and Strength

Nehemiah 8:10
“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

THE DEFINITIONS

Grieved/Grief
“deep mental suffering often endured alone and in silence but revealed by one's aspect (or appearance). Also, keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret."

Joy
1. a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment
2. something causing such a feeling; a source of happiness
3. an outward show of pleasure or delight; rejoicing
4. success; satisfaction.

Strength
Place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold.
Strength is the inherent capacity to manifest energy, to endure, and to resist.
A place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold, refuge, human protection.

MY THOUGHTS

The big thing that got me with this one was that grief is mental distress/suffering endured alone and in silence. Often we take these big heavy burdens onto ourselves, internalize them and they make us sick from the inside out. We think that just because we don't verbalize our pain that others aren't affected, but it is written in our body language and our mannerisms. It struck me how this one word can pretty much sum up all of life's badness: affliction, loss, sorrow, and even regret. Most of these things we can't even control or stop from coming at us. They just do. What we can control, instead, is our response to them. Our first instinct is to grieve. The emotion comes naturally, but we don't want to get stuck there.

Joy becomes our grief weapon and equips us with strength. I love this definition of strength: "The inherent capacity to manifest energy, to endure, and to resist. A means of safety, protection, refuge..." Holding onto joy, that's what gives us strength. The Lord gives us this burst of life and endurance in the midst of our circumstances. It's that extra pep to our step when we feel like fainting. It's the encouraging word to our neighbor when our own lives are in ruin. It's that ability to dig deep in order to bless someone else, even when we ourselves should be at the point of exhaustion. He picks us up, energizes us, and we have the incredible capacity to wear a smile even when all seems lost.

Joy is found by giving to others, and pouring into their hurting souls. It is striving with someone through the grit and the grime of the messes of life. It is picking up pieces of a broken heart and holding them until that person is strong enough to put them back together. It's going that extra mile and giving that extra smile. It's better that way.

“Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself”

-Mahatma Gandhi 

“Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness” 

-Tolstoy