Joy Restored

Psalms 51:12

According to Nehemiah 8:10 joy is the strength of the believer. To have it taken away will produce a weakness that will open up oneself to many struggles and unfortunately failures.

Somewhere along the line David lost his joy in God and it led to one of the darkest moments of his life. The thing that we need to remember the most is that this happened to “man after God’s on heart.” No one in the scripture outside of our Lord Jesus Christ had a heart for God like David.

It was David’s sin that took away his joy and, in this prayer, he asks God to restore unto him his joy of salvation. The joy of being of being saved is the heart of the Christmas message and when we have nothing else to rejoice in, then we can at least rejoice in the fact that God forgives sin and sinners. Even the most wicked of sins and sinners!

That’s why the message from the angels was referred to as “glad tidings of great joy.” Even Jesus’ own name means “He will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) Sin brings about a weight or burden that is ultimately difficult to bear. Many people carry the weight and guilt of their sins with them, never able to get over the things that they have done in their past, taking the life of joy and contentment out of them. But the good news is that through confession and repentance of sin and receiving the greatest gift ever given to mankind, that mourning for sin can be replaced by the oil of joy. (Isaiah 61:3)

Though sin can take away joy in our life it is not the only thing that can. Sickness, suffering, and situations can bring about sadness and cause us to lose focus on what brings us true joy. Jesus told his disciples that in this world there would be much tribulation, heartache and pain. But he promised them that if they would remember that he loves them and that if they love one another, their joy would be full. 

Peter said in 1 Peter 4:8 “Love covers the multitude of sin.” Through God’s love demonstrated in Christ we can rejoice in the Lord and his great work of salvation. But Peter also said that fiery trials would also come along with suffering, but by loving him in whom you can’t see, you can still “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory!” (1 Peter 1:8)

So today if, for whatever reason, you have lost you joy, remember it can be restored if you just ask God to restore it.

Pastor Robby