New Joy

What if the strength you’ve been asking God for is actually hidden inside joy?

This verse hits so deep and is so powerful because scripture connects joy to strength, and that’s not accidental. The enemy knows if he can drain your joy, he can drain your endurance. Because when joy is gone, everything starts feeling impossible.

Nehemiah 8:10 is spoken to people who were emotional and weeping. They had just heard the Word of God, and it exposed them. It showed them where they had drifted. They felt the weight of it. But instead of leaving them crushed, God’s Word called them back into hope. The instruction wasn’t, “Stay in shame.” The instruction was, “Don’t be discouraged and sad… the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

That teaches us something important: Conviction is meant to lead you to repentance, but repentance is meant to lead you to renewal. God doesn’t correct you to crush you, He corrects you to restore you. And one of the signs that restoration is happening is that joy returns.

Biblical joy is not pretending everything is fine. It’s not hype. It’s not denial. Joy is confidence that God is faithful, God is present, and God is working, even when you don’t feel “strong” today. Joy is what rises up when you remember who God is and what He’s already done.

Joy reminds you: God is doing something new in me, and I’m not going backwards. Joy gives you spiritual stamina. It keeps worship alive when feelings are flat. It keeps your heart soft when pressure tries to harden you.

So today, don’t confuse holiness with heaviness. Don’t confuse maturity with misery. God is not calling you to drag yourself through these days. He’s calling you to walk with Him, and His presence produces joy.

And here’s the key: you don’t have to “find joy” by chasing a mood. You receive joy by returning to the Lord. Joy is a fruit of being close to God. So ask Him today for new joy, joy that strengthens you, joy that outlasts your emotions, joy that makes you consistent, joy that keeps you thankful, joy that keeps you pressing forward.

Steps of Action: Read, Write, and Pray

1) READ:

Set aside time to read:

• Nehemiah 8:1–12

2) WRITE:

Answer these honestly:

• Where has joy been leaking out of me lately?
• What has been draining my spiritual strength?
• What is one truth about God I can rejoice in today?

Write one sentence beginning with: “Lord, today I choose joy because…”

3) PRAY:

“Lord, restore my joy and strengthen me with it. I refuse shame, heaviness, and discouragement. Teach me to rejoice in Your faithfulness. Let Your joy steady me, carry me, and keep me consistent in this fast. In Jesus’ name, amen.”