THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH

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In Nehemiah 8:10, we are reminded of this powerful truth:

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

When life feels heavy, it’s amazing how this little verse is packed with much depth and encouragement for us. It is this joy of the Lord that will sustain us and empower us to keep going. Let’s therefore dive into this little verse to understand what this joy is and just how transformative can this be in our lives.

Before we go to the verse, it’s essential to understand the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends on external circumstances—whether our day is going well, if people around us are treating us kindly, or if we achieve something material. And while there’s nothing wrong with being happy, it’s temporary because its focus is on the physical aspect. Happiness can slip away the moment something doesn’t go our way.

On the other hand, joy is something entirely different. Joy is deeper and more profound, rooted not in our circumstances but in our assurance with God. It’s a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and doesn’t waver even in tough times because it stems from the eternal promises of God and not in the physical things. If happiness is focuses on having things, joy on the other hand, focuses on being contended with God. It brings out peace and contentment. Here’s the summary of the two:

HAPPINESS	JOY
Depends on Material Things	Spiritual things
Having things	Contentment and Peace
Depend on external circumstances	Internal
Temporal	Lasting
Not the fruit of the Spirit	fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)

Happiness VS. Joy

Let’s go now to Nehemiah 8:10:

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

The historical context of this verse is when Nehemiah and the people of Israel have just finished rebuilding the walls and the gates of Jerusalem. At last, all their labors have come into fruition. At last, the promised of God to rebuild Jerusalem is complete. At last, Jerusalem is rebuilt! Oh, we can only imagine how these people sat down, take a rest and take a look at the city of Jerusalem they have rebuilt. They can now rest from their hard labor. They may have remembered how they were persecuted from every direction while they are rebuilding the city. They were physically and emotionally drained. But now, they can rest at last! The city is finished

After the city is finished, all of them gathered in the Water Gate of Jerusalem where Ezra the Priest, starts to read the Book of the Law (Neh. 8:1). And this is when the people cannot hold out their emotions anymore that they started to weep:

Neh. 8:9 “And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.”

Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites encourage the people not to weep because it is not the time to weep. But how can one not weep during that time? Even I, if I am present with them during that time, I will also weep. Here’s the context why those people of God wept much that day:

As they listened to the reading of the law, they remembered there suffering from their exile in Babylon. After 70 years of being exiled in Babylon, this is the first time again that they have heard the Law being read before the people. These Jews are longing for this very moment, to be in Zion again and for the Law to be read in their land again. We can read this longingness in Psalm 137:1-4:

“1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

4 How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?”

They cannot sing the Lord’s songs in Babylon even if their captors demanded them to sing them. They wept when they remembered Zion (Jerusalem). This is the reason why those Jews wept when Ezra read to them the Law. At last, they are in their land. They are no longer in a strange land. At last, they can now sing the Lord’s song. At last, they can now hear His words. For 70 years, they cannot do this. But now they can! And so they wept.

This situation of the Jews is also applicable to us. Especially to those who have backslide in their walk with God. Just like the Prodigal Son who has experienced the joy and peace of being in the presence of his Father but was drawn to the world. Those sons and daughters of God who have been captives by Babylon (world), will surely long for the Word of God. And they will weep when they remember Zion.

It is during the reading of the Law that those Jews also realized their disobedience to God which is the reason why they were held captives. Imagine the weight of their sorrow as they confronted the mistakes of their past. This will also happen to us if we continue to disobey God. They remembered everything! And so they wept.

But then Nehemiah steps in with a message of hope:

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

What a timely reminder! Despite their sorrow, God was calling them to focus on His goodness and faithfulness. The days of weeping are finished! They are now back to their Land. They are now in the presence of the Lord! They have repented. And now, God wanted them to renew their strength through His joy. This is to show them (and us), that even when we feel broken, the joy of the Lord is the source of our strength to rise again. This joy was not about forgetting their sin, but about recognizing that God’s grace and love are always greater.

Joy is a tremendous source of strength (Proverbs 17:22). This is why coaches motivate their athletes before the competition. A person who is “up” will accomplish far more than a person who is “down.” I have proven this every time I am assigned to lead a team in my work. When we have activities, instead of pressuring the people, the best thing to do is to motivate them through joy and they will accomplish more.

A person suffering from a physical ailment or pain but is filled with joy will survive much better than a discouraged person with the same condition. Joy can even make a person forget his pain and limitations. In fact, it is better to have joy in suffering than despair in ease and luxury. How much more if our source of joy is the Lord! If the person’s source of Joy is the Lord, he/she would be a very strong person. Circumstances change, physical things change, people change, but the Lord does not, and His joy is not due to circumstances. It is not due to physical things and it is not due to people. It is lasting and it is focused on spiritual things.

1. Joy Brings Resilience

Joy is an incredible source of strength because it gives us resilience. Even modern studies show that joy positively impacts our emotional and physical health. A joyful heart can heal, refresh, and renew. Spiritually, this joy strengthens us to persevere through trials, knowing that God is in control. It’s this joy that says, “Even though today might be hard, I have hope because God is with me.” And how empowering is that? The next time you face a tough moment, remember that joy has the power to lift you and carry you through!

2. Joy in the Face of Suffering

The most profound example of joy-giving strength is found in the Lord Jesus Himself. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that “for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross.” The Lord didn’t find joy in the pain He was experiencing, but in the outcome—the redemption of humanity, the restoration of our relationship with God. That joy gave Him the strength to endure the unimaginable suffering on the cross. He is thinking that He will going to possess you and me that’s why He is joyful even on the cross! This is because He knew that we are His portion, we are His inheritance (Deu. 32:9, Eph. 1:18). And this is the reason why the Lord Jesus has an overwhelming joy when He saw you while He is on the cross. The cross didn’t stop His joy knowing that He will have us.

This is a powerful lesson for us! When we face struggles, we can find joy not in the hardship itself but in the knowledge that God is using everything for a purpose, for our own good, for our growth, and for His glory. Just like the Lord endured because of the joy set before Him, we too can endure because we know God is at work in our lives. Keep pressing forward, knowing that your trials are leading you to greater strength and a deeper relationship with Him.

3. The Unchanging Nature of Joy of the Lord

Unlike happiness, which fades when circumstances change, the joy of the Lord is rooted in God’s unchanging nature. It remains, even when life feels unstable. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that God is our refuge and strength, “an ever-present help in trouble.” That’s where our joy comes from—knowing that no matter what will happen, God is always in us, always faithful, and always working for our good. He is with us and will never leave us.

When Nehemiah told the people to rejoice, it wasn’t just a suggestion—it was a command. He was telling them that joy was a choice they could make, even in the face of sorrow. It’s the same for us. There may be moments when joy feels far away, but God invites us to choose joy by focusing on His goodness, His promises, and His unwavering love.

This joy isn’t something we muster up on our own; it’s something that God gives us as we remain in Him. And the amazing thing is, this joy strengthens us in ways we can’t even fully comprehend. It anchors us during life’s storms and renews our energy when we feel like giving up.

So, as you reflect on Nehemiah 8:10, take heart! The joy of the Lord is your strength—no matter what life throws at you. It’s a joy that sustains, empowers, and gives you the resilience to keep moving forward. When you feel weak, turn to Him, and let His joy fill you, because that’s where true strength is found.

Take a moment today to thank God for His joy. Choose to focus on the things that stir that joy within you—God’s promises, His faithfulness, and His love for you. You have a joy that can never be taken away, and that joy will carry you through every challenge with strength and hope.

Remember, you’re not alone in this—God is in you, and His joy is your strength. Keep showing you light, and keep walking in that unshakable joy of the Lord!