Drugged Up Joy

Drugged Up Joy

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“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, NIV.

“A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones,” Proverbs 17:22, NIV.

Manufactured happiness is not joy.

The joy of the LORD has no substitute. Man can produce products that attempt to replicate a joyful experience, but man’s joy does not equal God’s joy. Joy is a gift from God; it’s part of God’s character—given to His children.

Man’s substitutes are drugs that can deliver a fake euphoria, but the consequences of said drugs have nasty aftereffects. And when I mention drugs, I mean street drugs, not medicine.

If drugs are not your thing, then there’s escapism, denial, busyness, avoidance behavior that can mask a type of joy. But this, too, is definitely NOT the joy of the LORD.

God’s joy can’t be bought, stolen or temporarily borrowed from a bottle.

God’s joy is true, good and satisfying. It lingers in one’s heart for days and has perfect memory recall. Unlike our manmade manufactured fake joy.

This fake joy leaves the user depressed and often void of memory.

God’s joy is real. It is not a result from the deep base of worship music—it’s a heavenly gift for God’s children.

It gives strength to the receiver and confidence to know that God was, is and will be forever. Joy feeds hope, accompanies peace, breathes on faith and can only be extinguished by doubt, unbelief and rejection of God’s perfect Word.

Joy is a byproduct of an obedient heart. Joy comes as someone works out their salvation with fear and trembling, (Philippians 2:12-13). Joy is birthed when we recognize our Creator, and trust in His ways. It’s more than a feeling, it’s an experience God gives us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death—and we fear nothing, for we know God is with us. Joy in the presence of God.

The joy of the LORD is indeed our strength. As obedient children, (not perfect children—just those who seek God to do what’s right), we can ask for joy daily.

Is it your strength today?

Father,

You are and will be, You are our Creator, our hope and our Deliverer. You walk with us at our invitation (draw near to God, and He will draw near to you) and will never leave our side. Even then, You are never far away, waiting for our return.

What can I do to thank You? What can I say that could ever capture who You are? You are the great I Am! You are worthy of my service, my dedication, my praise, my obedience to You and Your Word.

Humbly, time and time again I surrender my all to you, and yet it still seems not enough.

Blessed be the Name of the LORD, who is worthy to be praised.

Jesus, thank You for making joy possible.

Amen.