Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Nehemiah 8:10
For the joy of the Lord is your strength.
"Be joyful in hope." This means that, no matter what is going on around us, and no matter where we are at the time, we are constantly looking ahead.
We know that even if our circumstances seem negative now, brighter days are up ahead for us. Why? Because God is a good God, and His love for us is everlasting and unfailing. The psalmist wrote: "But, O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for all that He will do. He is my help! He is my God! (Psalm 42:11 TLB)
Let's praise Him because we know that God can do the impossible, and He will bring us through the tough times when we feel less than joyful!
When our hope is in the Lord and His goodness, we will experience the supernatural joy that is our inheritance in Christ.
Romans 12:12 says: "Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder."
Prayer: Lord, when a loved one or I are faced with dark or difficult times, remind me to be joyful in hope. Give me the patience I need to wait for Your timing and Your best. And teach me to persevere in prayer "until the answer comes." Thank You for the victories and rewards that will be mine as I follow Your Spirit's lead!
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