"Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher, and the Levites who had instructed the people said to them all, "This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
— Nehemiah 8:10
There are moments when life places us before unexpected ruins. Loss, disappointment, abrupt changes, dreams that crumble. If you woke up today carrying this weight, know that you are not alone, and more importantly: you are not abandoned. The people of Judah were in a situation that seemed irreversible. Their cities were destroyed, their walls collapsed, their hope in pieces. Yet Nehemiah invites them to something that seemed impossible in that context: to celebrate and find joy.
The beauty of this passage lies in its profound psychological and spiritual truth. Nehemiah does not tell them to ignore their grief or pretend everything was fine. He acknowledges the painful reality around them, but makes a radically different appeal: the joy of the Lord must be our strength. This is not a superficial joy based on favorable circumstances; it is a joy that springs from the certainty that God is with us in the midst of ruin. It is the joy that comes from knowing God's infallible character even when everything around us crumbles.
What a transformative message for those who are broken! Our strength does not come from our stable circumstances, our full bank accounts, our perfect relationships, or our thriving careers. Our strength comes from the joy we experience in recognizing that the Lord is rebuilding what was destroyed in our lives. This joy is an act of faith, a conscious decision to trust God as we walk among the debris.
Today, you are invited to do the same as that people did: instead of being consumed by grief, share with others, celebrate the life you still have, and remember that God's hand is wet with tears along with you, but it is also raising the foundations for something new. The joy of the Lord will be your strength today, not because everything is resolved, but because you walk with the One who overcomes all things.
Before everything collapses completely in your heart, let the quiet joy of knowing God be your refuge. He does not promise to eliminate the pain, but He promises to be with you in it, and He promises to rebuild. This is a promise you can rely on today.