Joy of the Lord

Nehemiah 8:9-12, John 10:22-30

The Joy of the Lord is your Strength--Nehemiah 8:1027

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.” John 10:27-28

One of the favorite praise choruses we use frequently in one of my former churches is “The Joy of the LORD is my strength.” The lyricist-composer Alliene G. Vale was inspired to pen the text and music based upon the proclamation of Nehemiah 8:10, “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’”

Today, we celebrate mothers across various categories. Regardless of which category you belong to, we are grateful for the gift of life and for nurturing us into the individuals we are today. Our focus is on an essential aspect of motherhood: the ability to multitask while remaining composed, even when children are not compliant with their mother’s requests.

Where do mothers find the energy and strength to carry out their tasks? A significant part of motherhood involves the pain of childbirth and the joy that follows when the baby is born! As we honor mothers, it is important to acknowledge that today can be difficult for some women for various reasons. However, taking inspiration from Nehemiah's counsel reminds us of the significance of this day. The joy of the Lord can provide them with strength and comfort.

Mothers are a remarkable creation of God, especially when navigating motherhood's challenges. One of my favorite columns by Erma Bombeck describes the moment God created mothers. She writes that on the day God was crafting mothers. He had already been working long hours. An angel approached Him and said, "Lord, you’re spending a lot of time on this one."

The Lord turned and replied, "Have you seen the specifications for this model? She is meant to be completely washable, but not made of plastic. She is designed to have 180 moving parts, all of which are replaceable. Her kiss should have the power to heal everything from a broken leg to a broken heart. She is to have a lap that disappears whenever she stands up. She must be able to function on black coffee and leftovers.

And on top of that, she is supposed to have six pairs of hands." "Six pairs of hands," said the angel, "that's impossible." "It's not the six pairs of hands that bother me," said the Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes. She is supposed to have one pair that sees through closed doors so that whenever she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' she already knows what they’re doing." "She has another pair in the back of her head to see all the things she isn't supposed to see but must be aware of. Then she has one pair right in front that can look at a child who just goofed and communicates love and understanding without saying a word."

"That's too much," said the angel. "You can't include that much in one model. Why don't you take a break and continue your creation tomorrow?" "No, I can't," said the Lord. "I'm close to creating someone very much like myself. I've already designed a model who can heal herself when she's sick, who can feed a family of six with one pound of hamburger, and who can persuade a nine-year-old to take a shower."

Then the angel looked at the motherhood model a little more closely and said, "She’s too soft." "Oh, but she is tough," replied the Lord. You’d be surprised at how much this mother can do." "Can she think?" asked the angel. "Not only can she think," said the Lord, "but she can also reason, compromise, and persuade."

The angel then reached over and touched her cheek. "This one leaks," he said. "I told you you couldn’t put much in one model." "That’s not a leak," the Lord corrected him. "That’s a tear." "What’s a tear for?" asked the angel. "Well, it’s for joy, sadness, sorrow, disappointment, and pride," the Lord explained. "You’re a genius," said the angel.

The Israelites were in exile in Babylon after their beloved city and magnificent Temple were destroyed. They were suffering and filled with bitterness until God sent Nehemiah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Once the walls were completed, Nehemiah helped to restore their spiritual life by asking Ezra to read the neglected word of God. As the Israelites listened to the reading, their waywardness was exposed, and they began to cry and weep from conviction. At that moment, Nehemiah reminded them that it was not a day for sadness and tears, but a day for celebration. He encouraged them to set aside their grief, sorrow, and sadness, and to rejoice instead, for "the joy of the Lord is your strength!"

Mothers are incredibly resilient, facing many challenges throughout their journey of motherhood. Today, we are reminded not to let disappointments or embarrassments hold us back. Instead, we should hold on to God's words and rejoice, for the joy the Lord provides is truly our source of strength in all circumstances. This joy extends beyond our earthly challenges, as Jesus promised, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish” (John 10:28).

As we celebrate our mothers today, let us go home, eat, and be grateful to all the mothers who have touched our lives!

Happy Mother’s Day!