The Lord is My Strength: Finding Joy in Every Season

An Encouragement from the Bible

Beloved, there is a song that rises even in the midnight hour. There is a joy that the world “neither giveth nor taketh away.” The Scriptures declare it plainly:

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

In a day when many hearts faint for fear, when the news is heavy and the nights seem long, the Lord would remind His people that our circumstances do not have the final word—He does.

Consider the apostle Paul and Silas, thrust into the inner prison at Philippi, their backs bleeding from the Roman lash. At midnight, when most would curse the darkness, they prayed and sang praises unto God. And the prisoners heard them. Suddenly the earth quaked, the foundations shook, the doors flew open, and every chain fell off (Acts 16:25-26). Their worship did not wait for deliverance; their worship became the deliverance.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Notice the Holy Ghost moved Paul to say it twice. Not “rejoice when the bank account is full,” nor “rejoice when the doctor’s report is good,” but “alway.” In the storm, in the valley, in the furnace, in the lion’s den—alway.

Why can we rejoice when everything seems to go wrong? Because our God is the God of the “yet.”

Habakkuk stood on a wall while an invading army thundered toward Judah, crops failed, and the fig tree refused to blossom. Yet in that same breath he declared:

“Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Did you hear it? “Yet I will rejoice.” That is resurrection joy. That is the shout before the battle is won. That is the melody the angels recognize, because it is the same song that rose from an empty tomb on Sunday morning.

This day, lift up your head. The Redeemer who turned water into wedding wine, who made the leper clean, who caused the blind to see and the dead to rise, has not lost His power. He is the same yesterday, today, and for ever (Hebrews 13:8).

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

Dear reader, the world can take your possessions, your health, even your reputation, but it cannot touch the joy that is hid with Christ in God. Draw near to Him today. Open the old Book. Let the words of the King James fall fresh upon your soul like morning dew. Sing the old songs. Speak the promises aloud. The enemy trembles when a child of God remembers who his Father is.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

Your morning is coming. Nay, for the believer, the Son has already risen with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2). Walk in the light of that everlasting day.

Be of good cheer, little flock. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

And if God be singing over you, surely you can find a note or two to sing back.

The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Go in that strength today—and rejoice.

Check out my books exploring many topics: Discovering the Path of Salvation

by Stephen Luckett