The Joy of The Lord.....Is Strength!

It seems like any time you hear a message on joy the verse that gets quoted the most is the last part of Nehemiah 8:10 where it says "...for the joy of The Lord is your strength." And as much as I love that verse and fully believe it (because I have lived it over the past 8 months), I also believe there is another side to joy. Have you ever stopped to think that the joy you put forth could be someone else's strength too? As I have walked out this trial I have been going through over the past 8 months I have looked up to people who have gone through something way worse than me. I work with a woman who has lost a child and a spouse. I have known her for around 17 years now and I have watched her walk with God through this process. As much as I am sure she has had bad days, I have witnessed her having good days...even great days. And as I have gone through my trial I have had the opportunity to sit in her office and tearfully tell her how much her strength has meant to me. In her humbleness she shared with me that she felt like she could be stronger. But I was able to share with her what it meant to me to watch her remain close to God despite what she has gone through. I have never asked her, but I am sure she could name someone that she looked up to for the joy and strength they remained in as they walked through a trial of their own. And over the past 8 months I have also had people tell me that the joy, peace and strength I have displayed in my life has encouraged them. My point is this....when we stay where God wants us to stay, close to Him, drawing from Him and letting other see Him in us...we are not the only one who benefits from that. If, or when, you get hit with a trial, think of someone who you have watched walked through a storm and remain close to God, then remember that you are that person to someone you know. God can use our storms to strengthen us...and others. I do not say this as an added pressure if you are in the midst of a storm, but more as an added blessing. Let God carry you...you never know who is being blessed and encouraged by watching you. And yes, you may have bad days, but do not let them overtake you. Keep going to God and asking for joy, peace and strength and then go boast about ALL that He does for you. See Him in the little and the big things of your life and talk about Him to those around you. Your God given joy could be someone else's strength and you may never know it!
God, give us eyes to see your blessings in the midst of our storm. Help us to walk in a supernatural joy and show a hurting world that you really are enough! Let the world see through our life that you can calm the storm, you can bring the peace and you can give us a reason to smile even on the worst of days. In Jesus name, Amen.