ACTS 13:52

We must constantly remind ourselves that being disciples of the Christ does not forgo us having joy or being joyful. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In the Christian faith, joylessness is by no means evidence of Christian piety and spirituality, but more of a sign of weakness and lack of good spiritual formation.

Nehemiah forcefully reminds us of this sobering truth as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem under the most trying and challenging of circumstances. He emphatically said . . . “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). The Church of God of today would do well to pay keen attention to this scriptural injunction. It is more than just a maxim or pious platitude that we quote just to sound religious. This is a scriptural truth that we need to grasp again and allow to really sink into our spirits.

2024 has been hard and rough, but can we not stop just for a moment and acknowledge the providential hand of God in all our present lives and survival. How the enemy wished he could have wiped us out and cause the plan of God for our continued existence and survivability to have been aborted, but he couldn’t! Therefore, with great determination and intentionality we rejoice, refusing to live one more day in clinical depression and dispirited darkness!

In fact, Nehemiah declared it so. He made a personal and public declaration. He said … “For this day is holy unto the Lord: neither be ye sorry . . .” (v10). He deemed it so. He expelled depression. He commanded them not to weep or mourn (9). He claimed and recognized divine joy as the source of their strength. It is so much easier to defeat and deflate us when we are disheartened, distressed and depressed.

No wonder Jesus talked about His joy remaining in us and our joy being full (John 15:11). Today may we recover and recapture the irresistible joy of Jesus as we continue on the journey. Let the Church of God be a place of inexpressible, unspeakable joy, full of glory!

I pray earnestly today that nobody or nothing will be allowed to steal your joy – the joy given you by Jesus and your joy in the Holy Ghost. Can you imagine the Church being characterized as a place of mournful silence and downhearted spirits? It is not! We reiterate nothing could be further from the truth. It is a place of explosive joy! “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:52).