Choose Joy, Get Strength

There's a reason why the Bible says the joy of the Lord gives strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) Something happens when you are filled with a joy that comes from God. Despite situations, challenges, physical tedium, and other seemingly negative instances, God's joy has a way of making you smile, laugh, and feel light regardless of it all.

Currently my father is battling sickness in his body. In spite of being confined to a wheelchair and losing mobility in his extremities, my father has not sunk into a depression. He doesn't complain about his present hardship.

He has chosen to embrace the joy of the Lord. As a result, he has remained his happy, sunshine-smiling self. He always has something positive to say. He continues to preach every Sunday and Thursday. He always has an encouraging word. I believe that it is this choice to dwell in God's joy that has strengthened my father to defy the statistics that would have had him in the grave long ago.

We all can take a lesson from my father's choice. In the face of  whatever hardship, we can choose to embrace the joy of God. We can pass over despair and depression and cling to the joy of our Heavenly Father.

As we remember His almighty power, love for us, and divine plan, we have no need to despair. We can rest assured knowing that He will bring us to our expected end.

Verse of the Day: But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalm 5:11