The Joy of the Lord

The situation seemed hopeless. The Jews were exiles in Assyria. Their own nation, for all practical purposes, had ceased to exist. They had every reason to expect that they might disappear as a people or exist in a permanent state of slavery.

Yet God performed a miracle. Amazingly, the Assyrian leader directed them to return to their homeland and even paid for the reconstruction of their temple!

It was a moment that called for great celebration, as they obeyed God by keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Hebrew words convey a festive joy, a glee that comes from freedom, a brightness that lightens the countenance and lifts burdens. This was the joy they experienced as they celebrated the Lord’s Feast.

While still facing huge problems, they realized that God was bigger than any problem. That He could perform miracles. And He truly cared for them. Obeying and trusting Him, they knew they could have joy in any condition.

It can be easy to be consumed by problems. But these Jews learned that we can be filled with joy, regardless of the size of our problems or how circumstances might appear. We can be joyful if we know God and trust Him.

The Bible tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). A byproduct of being filled with the Spirit and abiding in Jesus. It is His fruit, always available to you.

How are you responding to your challenges? Don’t worry or feel overwhelmed. Trust in God. Declare His promises to be true. Thank Him for His answers. Let His Spirit flow through you. Let Him free you from burdens and give you a gleeful, Spirit-filled joy.