5.3.25

I never fully understood what the verse in the book of Nehemiah means where he writes, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Coaches and athletes use it frequently in the Christian sports world. I understand the phrase generally, but didn’t grasp the power behind it until one morning a short while back.

Before my girlfriend, Jayne, and I started officially dating, I was in heavy pursuit. My one friend told me that God let me in on the secret that we should be dating first and just hadn’t told her yet. So, I waited fairly patiently for God to give her the secret too.

Before that day eventually came, on one frigid Sunday morning in January, I wanted to drop off a coffee and a little note for Jayne before church. It was like seven degrees and windy in Hoboken that morning. Despite the weather, I got up early, went to a little coffee shop to pick up her decaf cappuccino and write a small note. Then I made the trek to drop it off outside her apartment door. My hand was bright red and completely frozen carrying that coffee. The wind was whipping as I made the mile-ish walk to her apartment and back with my lack-of-a-winter-coat. And as my extremities were going numb, I just remember thinking, this really should suck, but it doesn’t. All I could think about was the smile on her face when she read the note and took a sip of her decaf cap.

I was smiling and likely humming the song playing through my headphones – practically skipping down Park Avenue. Though a bitter cold walk, it was one of my favorites. It was fueled by the thought of being the one to bring Jayne a hint of joy that morning. It was on that walk God opened my eyes and the verse in Nehemiah made sense to me. For the joy of the Lord is your strength.

We can experience so much strength as we love and serve and steward what we’ve been given, because we know the joy our Heavenly Father gets when we do so. God is truly delighted when we love his people well and when we walk on His path – especially when it costs us something. And when we are down, that joy comes back around to help us pop back up. Now I see!