Choosing Joy in the Ashes

"Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:10  
  
Max Lucado once shared a story about teaching his son to ride a bike. As his son zoomed down a hill, out of control, Max yelled, “Hit the brake, son; hit the brake!” His son panicked and yelled back, “I forgot how!” Sometimes, life feels just like that—like we have forgotten how to have joy.

We often let what we see dictate how we feel. When the doctor gives a bad report, we feel defeated. When debt looms, we feel crushed. But true joy is about seeing one thing and perceiving another.  

Joy sees the sickness but perceives healing. It sees the debt but perceives freedom. Joy isn’t about ignoring reality, it’s about discerning the possibility beyond it. When life seems like it’s racing downhill and you feel like you’ve forgotten how to stop, don’t forget joy.
 
The Israelites faced a similar situation when they returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile in Babylon. They had endured unimaginable hardship—persecution, loss of life, and destruction of their homes.

 As they gathered in the town square, Ezra read from the Book of the Law for hours. It was the first time they had heard God’s Word since captivity, and the emotions overwhelmed them. Their tears flowed as they remembered the life they lost, the family members no longer with them, and the uncertainty of the future ahead.
 
In that moment of sorrow, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the priests didn’t tell them to ignore their pain. They didn’t ask them to deny the destruction around them or forget the trauma of exile. Instead, they told them to choose joy. “Do not be grieved,” they said, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Joy isn’t about pretending everything is fine when it’s not. It’s about finding beauty in the ashes, recognizing that even in the midst of devastation, God’s joy can give you strength. It’s not about bypassing your pain but choosing to see beyond it, trusting that God is still working.  
No matter what you face today, you have a choice. Will you focus on what’s broken or choose the joy that only God can provide? Because joy isn’t based on what you see, it’s based on who you trust. And the joy of the Lord is your strength.