The Joy Of The Lord

We were fixing supper tonight.......squash, sweet potatoes, and grilled turkey burgers.  While Joel was watching the burgers, I went up to the office to get something and noticed all the lights on the printer flashing....I yelled at Joel and he came up to try and fix it.  We were focused on the machine when suddenly the smell of broiling burgers came into the room.   I went downstairs to check on supper.  I peeked in the oven just as the fire alarm in the kitchen started going off......then the one in the dining room...and finally the one in the entry chimed it.  Joel ran downstairs and started dragging a chair from alarm to alarm to take the batteries out while I took care of the burgers and closed the oven door.

Finally the house was quiet except for the exasperation we both felt.  I looked at Joel and said, "The joy of the Lord is our strength."  The joy of the Lord is our strength!   He joined in ~ the joy of the Lord is our strength!

In the past couple of weeks this verse has been helping us through more than a few frustrations, a day or two of feeling down and out, and a few moments of life just not being fair.  It has also been the icing on the cake for some good times.  Sound familiar? 

Joy is defined by the dictionary as an emotion evoked by well-being and a source or cause of delight.

I know if you look at the context of this in Nehemiah it seems to relate to sorrow or grief......but I find it applies across the board.  Knowing who God is, knowing how much He loves us ~ His joy for us....THIS is our strength.  It seems to take the air out of frustration, supports us in our grief, and gives us peace during tough times.

 God's joy, His delight in us puts everything else in perspective. Even when the fire alarms are singing in unison, the printer is doing it's own dance, and the burgers are a bit chewy!