Strength in Joy

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Wow! So the back to school season is no joke this year! We are almost 2 months in and I am just getting my feet underneath me. I blinked and it had been almost 2 months since posting. It didn't seem like that but I guess with the start of school and all my kids' activities, time just flew by. I'm sure many of you might feel the same way.

Anyway, the other day I was listening to some music and a song came on that used a bible verse as the main chorus. Their song was entitled The Joy by The Belonging Co. It's a fairly upbeat song with a  really catchy chorus that just echoed the scripture verse repeatedly. The verse is from Nehemiah 8:10:

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"...For the joy of the Lord is your strength."

And this simple phrase has stopped and made me ponder. See, at this point, Nehemiah was like the governor as the Israelites were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and Ezra was the acting priest. At this moment, Nehemiah had Ezra and the Levites come out with the book of the Law from God and they begin to read and teach it to the people. And the people respond and are broken as they hear what God has done for them. They begin to mourn. But Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites encourage the people saying that today is a holy day. A day for renewal. So, do not grieve. For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Powerful. I've never really considered that one way we draw strength is from the joy of the Lord. But what is it?

As I've considered that question and thought about how this applies to my life and my work, I think the joy of the Lord is the attitude that comes from the confident knowledge that you and I are children of God. It is embracing the gospel message that you and I were dead in our sins and a slave to sin but that while we were in that sinful state, Jesus came. He took the punishment we deserved for that sin by dying on the cross and then resurrecting back to life conquering death and offering eternal life for all who believe in His name. It means that, because of what he's done for me and you, we can now persevere and complete the things he has called you and I to do in our lives (much like the exiled Israelites returning to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls) whether challenging or easy. Joy, for what he has done and how he watches over us, leads to strength in our lives! So, remember today as you live and work that:

The joy of the Lord is your strength when you feel worn out at work and want to give up.

The joy of the Lord is your strength when you may have to deal with a difficult co-worker or boss.

The joy of the Lord is your strength when you have an opportunity to share the gospel and you may not know what to say.

The joy of the Lord is your strength when you are emotionally exhausted from ministering to patients.

The joy of the Lord is your strength before you walk in the door to your home to serve your family after a busy work day.

The joy of the Lord is your strength as you make managerial decisions for your clinic.

The joy of the Lord is your strength when you are treating an ungrateful, demanding patient.

The joy of the Lord is your strength when you go through company changes or when looking for a new job.

The joy of the Lord is your strength even when you have a great day that is not stressful!

I hope you find this as encouraging as I have found it to be in my personal life, work life, and family life and I pray that you begin to discover the strength found in the joy of the Lord!

Jason

**Check out my book "Rehab the World" written for Physical Therapists and other rehab professionals to encourage us in our workplace and prepare us to serve those around us. If you like, please leave a review and spread the word!!**