“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10
How true it is.
In Psalm 137, we find the Israelites in Babylon as refugees by coercion, slaves of cruel masters, far away from home with only bad memories as their company. Mockingly, the Babylonians tell them to “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
But how could they? They had lost their joy. The grief was too much to bear. As we read in Isaiah 40, a faithful prophet comes as God’s instrument to comfort his people.
Isaiah begins with the words, “Comfort, comfort my people,” and ends with, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
Perhaps something in your life such as grief, worry, sin, or discontentment has chased away your joy. Find comfort in the words of Isaiah today as you rest in God’s waiting room.
Try this: Stop focusing on an answer to your prayer and instead, step away quietly and simply wait on Him. Listen for the wind of the Spirit which will lift you up above your dreadful days and help you sing a new song of joy.