As a college professor, the start of a new semester can sometimes sneak up on you. I imagine it’s the same for the students as well as for anyone who has a “break” and then has to get back to the normal routine of things. As I prepare for the new year, there are times when the amount of things that have to get done seemingly exceeds the amount of time that I have to do them. Staying up later and getting up earlier in order to accomplish those things tends to exacerbate the feelings of exhaustion and being overwhelmed. It’s a hard adjustment to make.
However, as I have been reminded of recently, my source of strength isn’t in the amount of sleep I get (although I do need sleep) or in my ability to cross things off my to-do list. Instead, as Scripture says, “the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b). Strength comes from rejoicing in what He is accomplishing, not what I’m doing. Strength comes in finding joy in Who He is, not who I am.
The beautiful thing about this is that God is never changing; He is Who He is – always. Additionally, God is always at work for His purposes. What this means is that there are always reasons to rejoice. There is never a time that I can’t find joy in Him, which means there is never a time that I can’t find strength.
God tells us that He will renew the strength of those who hope in Him – so much so that it will be as if they are on the wings of eagles. When we find our joy in Him, when He is our source of satisfaction, we may be tired, but He will help us run like young men. He will give us what we need to persevere – joyfully and in His strength.
How can you find joy in the Lord today?
