Anchor Devotional

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Joy of the Lord

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

The phrase “the joy of the Lord” makes little sense to someone who does not know Jesus. He may find joy in all manner of things—good or evil. Even we who know Jesus as our Savior are often tempted to mark good things in this world as “true joy.” We think there can be nothing better than that birth of a new baby, that stunning sunrise, that memorable vacation, or that perfect job offer.

Unfortunately, many of our “joys” are short-lived. And there is much in this life that is a source of real grief. Our Savior knows the heaviness of grief; He carried the world’s weight of it on His shoulders. He knows what a burden it is to carry the grief of loss, hurt, and rejection. But He also has assured us that joy and delight in Him will be our strength. In His joy, our burden will be light (see Matthew 11:30). In His joy, the weight of our worries won’t even begin to compare to the glory He has for us (see 2 Corinthians 4:17).

When we are seeking Jesus first, He becomes our joy. “Strength and joy [are] in his dwelling place” (1 Chronicles 16:27).

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Nehemiah 8:9-12

INSIGHT
Lord, thank You that we can come to You for our strength and joy. We do not grieve without hope, for You are always with us. Amen

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
2 Kings 18-19
Proverbs 20
1 John 5

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