For the Joy of the Lord is your strength

"For the Joy of the Lord is your strength"  Nehemiah 8:10

My good friend shared this with me in the context of not being crushed by surpassing difficulties and concerns.

This thought has sustained me and the following passage is, to me, a vivid example of this

David’s Strength Was in His God

30 1-3 Three days later, David and his men arrived back in Ziklag. Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They tore Ziklag to pieces and then burned it down. They captured all the women, young and old. They didn’t kill anyone, but drove them like a herd of cattle. By the time David and his men entered the village, it had been burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters all taken prisoner.

4-6 David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him.

6-7 David strengthened himself with trust in his God. He ordered Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the Ephod so I can consult God.” Abiathar brought it to David.

8 Then David prayed to God, “Shall I go after these raiders? Can I catch them?”

The answer came, “Go after them! Yes, you’ll catch them! Yes, you’ll make the rescue!”

.... David rescued everything the Amalekites had taken. And he rescued his two wives! Nothing and no one was missing—young or old, son or daughter, plunder or whatever. David recovered the whole lot. He herded the sheep and cattle before them, and they all shouted, “David’s plunder!”

.....26-31 On returning to Ziklag, David sent portions of the plunder to the elders of Judah, his neighbors, ... He sent them to the elders in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Racal, Jerahmeelite cities, Kenite cities, Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach, and Hebron, along with a number of other places David and his men went to from time to time.

I Samuel 30:1-8, 18-20, 26-31

to read the whole passage see:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+30



(small note - It is upsetting to read about David having two wives. The fact that this detail is included in the Bible does not mean in any way that God condones or endorses David's choice to do this)


Disaster comes to David

Upon arriving home, David finds an unforeseen disaster has occurred

those he loved: gone

what he had built: destroyed

his place of  shelter, homecoming, and refuge: obliterated

his companions: distressed and despairing

blaming him and wanting to wreak their grief on him


David encourages himself in His God

Nothing in the situation to find courage in

Nothing in his friends to help him

No reason to hope

Except in who God is

The Wellspring
There is always courage and encouragement in dwelling on the character of our great God

He is powerful
He is kind
He cares
He is loving
He is never discouraged or weary
He is never confounded or unsure
He is the I am God


It is this truth that can strengthen my heart to face the hard situation

David found encouragement and courage to pursue and to recover in God

6 Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. 7 And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.

8 Brothers, continue to think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. 9 And do what you learned and received from me. Do what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.  Philippians 4:6-9 ICB

One place there is always something true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful to focus on:
God himself

Abundance

not only did David recover

But he gained an abundance

to share and bless others as well

Nehemiah 8:10International Children’s Bible (ICB)

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy good food and sweet drinks. Send some to people who have none. Today is a holy day to the Lord. Don’t be sad. The joy of the Lord will make you strong.”