Neh 8:10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. ”
When Ezra read the book of the law to the children of Israel,they all wept and mourned .This was occasioned by godly sorrow for their apathy and none – adherence to God’s word. They were in great pain and distress .Nehemiah told them to go eat and drink choicest food .They were to stop grieving because their strength came from the joy of the Lord.
Going through life weeping and mourning is very common to many. This saps our strength and leaves us emaciated with no reason to hold on at all . Joy, which is a fruit of the Holy spirit and independent of happenings ,can trigger our inner strength and give us a reason for living.
The Joy of the lord transforms our mourning into morning,weeping into wiping and pain into gain.When life gives us a dose of pain,crushing and tears ,we can trade all these for the joy of the lord and in turn gain our strength.
Additional readings:
1 Jh 1:4
2Ch 30:26
Ezra 3:13
Psa 5:11, 51:12
🙏Blessed day🙏