The joy of the Lord

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 (KJV)

It has been a hectic few days. I had been working night shifts, often with very little sleep during the day. On average, I managed only about three-four hours of sleep a day.

On Saturday morning, 24 October, after completing my night shift, I returned home, took a shower, and headed straight to the airport. I had a speaking engagement at HighPointe Life, Klang on Sunday morning.

As usual, Ps Stephen and his wife, Flora, came to pick me up at the airport. We enjoyed a good time of fellowship over lunch, after which I spent much of the afternoon preparing my message for Sunday morning.

That evening, we were invited to Ps Reni’s parents’ home for a memorial service in remembrance of his parents, who had both passed away over the years. It was a privilege to meet members of his family and relatives and to share in this meaningful occasion.

Slept past midnight and was up early to pray and seek the Lord. I know I cannot go up the pulpit with His anointing. The Word must minister to the church and only the Holy Spirit can do it.

On Sunday morning, it was a joy to meet the church members again, many of whom have become more than friends; they have become dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The worship was wonderful, and I had the privilege of sharing God’s Word on the theme “Set Your House in Order,” with my message focusing on “Biblical Priorities.” The main text was Matthew 6:33:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (KJV)

It was not an easy message to preach. Because it was cause every one of us to do a soul searching. Yet, as I sought the Lord in preparation, I sensed that I had to deliver the message the Holy Spirit had laid upon my heart. After the service, some of the church leaders came to me and remarked, “This message is the right one for this time for our church.”

I was grateful that the Word of God had spoken to the hearts of His people. After all, the preacher’s responsibility is not merely to say what people want to hear, but to faithfully proclaim what God wants His people to hear, always in love and with humility.

That afternoon, I had lunch with some church members. Later, Pastor Reni and his wife sent me to the airport. Unfortunately, my flight arrived late, and I had to rush straight to work for another night shift. Thank God, I made it on time.

This morning, after returning home, I went to the hospital because my sister was scheduled to be discharged. I was physically exhausted, but there were still responsibilities that needed my attention. By the time I settled my sister's medical issues , it was almost 6.00 PM. 

Now, at 7 pm, I finally have a little time to sit at my study table and reflect on the past few days.

What a journey it has been! I am no longer getting any younger, yet the Lord continues to open doors for ministry and entrust responsibilities to me.

Someone recently remarked, “How are you managing to do all this? You have to care for your elderly mother, and your sister has been in hospital for a month. Yet you continue work, travel, preach, write devotions and oversee the mission work. How do you do it?”

It was a sincere question, and as I reflected on it, the words of Nehemiah 8:10 came to mind:

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.”

The source of my strength

What does it mean for the joy of the Lord to be our strength?

It is more than a feeling of happiness when things are going well. It speaks of the deep-seated confidence, hope and spiritual assurance we find in the Lord. It is the joy that flows from knowing Him, trusting His faithfulness and resting in His sovereign purposes.

The context of Nehemiah 8:10 is significant. As the people of Israel listened to the reading of God's Law, they were deeply convicted and began to weep. Nehemiah and the Levites encouraged them not to remain in sorrow, but to rejoice because the day was holy unto the Lord. Their strength was not to be found in their own merits, but in their relationship with God and the grace He extended to them.

Likewise, the joy of the Lord sustains us when our circumstances are demanding and our human strength is insufficient. It does not mean that we will never grow weary, experience discouragement or face seasons of difficulty. Neither does it mean that we must always feel strong. Rather, it reminds us that our limitations do not diminish God's faithfulness.

There are days when our bodies are tired, our minds are weary and our responsibilities seem overwhelming. Yet, beneath the weariness, there can still be a quiet assurance that the Lord is with us. We continue not because we are strong in ourselves, but because our confidence rests in Him.

As the apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9:

“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (KJV)

God's grace does not necessarily remove our human frailty. Instead, His grace sustains us in our weakness and teaches us to depend more fully upon Him.

Grace for the calling, strength for the journey

As I look back on these past few days, I am reminded that I am not a superman. I have my limitations, and I certainly feel the effects of physical exhaustion. I cannot claim that every demanding schedule is necessarily God's will, nor should I presume that faithfulness means neglecting the need for rest.

But I know the God whom I serve.

Over the years, I have learnt that ministry is not sustained by human determination alone. It requires the grace of God, the enabling of the Holy Spirit and a heart that remains surrendered to His will.

The Lord has entrusted me with responsibilities in ministry, missions, writing and family. Each carries its own demands, and at times, these responsibilities seem to converge all at once. I cannot always control the circumstances, but I can continually bring my life before the Lord and seek His wisdom for each day.

My prayer is simple: “Lord, let Your will be done in my life. Give me the grace to do what You have called me to do, the wisdom to recognise my limitations, and the humility to depend upon You.”

I am reminded of Philippians 2:13:

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (KJV)

What an encouraging truth! God does not merely call us to serve Him and leave us to struggle in our own strength. He works in us, shaping our desires and enabling us to fulfil His purposes.

Our responsibility is to remain yielded to Him, to walk in obedience and to trust Him for the grace we need. The outcome belongs to Him.

A heart that continues to rejoice

Perhaps this is what I am learning afresh in this season of life: the secret of continuing in ministry is not simply having more energy, greater ability or stronger determination. It is learning to draw continually from the Lord, who is the source of our strength.

There is joy in knowing that our labour in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). There is joy in seeing lives touched by His Word, in witnessing the advancement of His Kingdom and in knowing that, despite our imperfections, He graciously allows us to participate in His purposes.

And there is joy even in the ordinary, sometimes demanding responsibilities of life, when we recognise that our service to God is expressed not only through preaching and missions, but also through caring for our loved ones and faithfully fulfilling the responsibilities He has placed before us.

I do not know what tomorrow will bring, and I cannot promise that I will always have the physical strength to do everything I would like to do. But I know that the Lord remains faithful. My confidence is not in my capacity to sustain the work, but in His grace to guide me, strengthen me and teach me when to press on and when to rest.

As long as He gives me the opportunity, I want to remain faithful to His calling, not driven by ambition or a need to prove myself, but motivated by love for Him and a desire to see His Kingdom advance.

I am not a superman. I am simply a servant who knows the Master.

And when my strength is insufficient, His grace is sufficient. When the journey becomes demanding, His presence remains my assurance. And when I wonder how I can continue, I am reminded once again:

“The joy of the LORD is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10

All I need to do is surrender my life afresh to Him and pray, “Lord, let Your will be done.”

He is the One who calls, the One who enables, and the One who sustains. To Him be all the glory.