Crazy Joy

Against all odds, against three crafty enemies, against fear of death, sleepless nights, threat of bodily harm, tricks and lies, Nehemiah can talk about joy!

His book reads like a journal, a detailed account of how the Lord led him to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, and of all the trials and resistance he encountered throughout the 52 days it took to build it.
Now Nehemiah faced three nasty and persistent opponents, Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arab. These three openly mocked and ridiculed Nehemiah for his plan to rebuild the wall. His enemies were as determined to stop him, as he was to finish the job.
Their taunts were sharp; their threats were frightening; their lies and tricks were intimidating.
Nehemiah didn't sit down and whine about the unfairness, didn't run and hide, didn't give up or give in, didn't mope. Instead, he led the people by example, made plans for their protection, kept the workers going, took care of their needs, and always prayed to God. These weren't long prayers, either, just simple "God, make me strong" prayers, and back to work he went.
But perhaps, the most incredible thing Nehemiah did was introduce them to a Crazy Joy.

All the people had gathered at the Water Gate, because the wall was done! Ezra now stood above them on a wooden platform, and read the law to them from early morning til noon. Many were hearing, for the first time, the words of God, and a tremendous revival spread throughout the crowd. There was a whole lot of weeping in response to what they were understanding, when Nehemiah calls for it all to stop. Stop hurting, stop feeling sorry, stop crying, stop being sad!
"Excuse me! Are you minimizing my pain?"
No, that's not what the people said, but you know, that is what I say, when I feel that someone is cutting off my expression of pain and sadness.
When I feel bad, when I feel sorry for myself, I think that, by default, I have to feel sad. Isn't that the way it works? When I hurt, my pain is real to me, so I want others to affirm that pain, to tell me I'm right to be sad. It insults my pride to be told to get over my sadness, before I'm ready. Do you think I can turn on the happy faucet anytime I want to? Well, I don't want to. I want to keep the right to hurt, because it says that my pain is legitimate. Besides, how will anyone know how sad I am, and feel sorry for me, if I don't show it?

For Nehemiah and the people, there will be plenty of weeping and confessing in 23 days, but they would not be doing it on this day. This was the day to go enjoy lots of rich, fatty food and sweet drinks, as well as make sure everyone else had enough happy food, because this day was holy, set apart for the Lord.
Do you think their feelings changed instantly? Probably not. So then, why do I think that I have to feel happy before I can be happy?

When I was severely depressed, I felt no joy. Many mornings I stood in the shower sobbing, water mixing with the tears that covered my face, but no matter how much water washed over me, it wouldn't take all that sadness away. We had this waterproof cd player for the shower, and one morning, as I leaned my head against the wall sobbing silently, the words to a song broke through and I heard, "We are all as happy as we make up our minds to be, I have just decided that nothing's gonna take this joy from me, it's a good day even if things aren't going my way. Jesus is Lord and I am saved!"*
What a concept! I could decide that joy was going to stay in my day because Jesus was Lord! I was saved, wasn't that enough reason to rejoice? It was like God had hung down a life saver for me, as He had done many times before, I believe, only this time I saw it and clung to it. Something had changed, and for the first time, I had a new plan to make joy my choice each day, no matter what.

The story of Nehemiah tells me that, not only can we choose to stop being sad and be glad, we really should do it. It's kind of crazy, I know, but it works.
Hey, I haven't even told you yet what Nehemiah's crazy joy is!
This is it, "the joy of the LORD is your strength."
"Oh", you say, "is that all?"
Don't be fooled, you may think these words are simple, but there is more to them than meets the eye. Behind those first appearances are words of deeper meaning. Nehemiah says this joy is in Yahweh, backing up our joy with the highest name possible God uses for Himself. What's more, the strength of this joy is not the kind you normally associate with the word, but actually means fortress, a refuge, our stronghold, or safe place. The joy of the LORD is your fortress. The joy of the LORD builds walls of protection around you.
Does that sound like the kind of joy that you feel, the kind of joy you can find inside of you?
That doesn't really sound like any kind of joy I know!
If you want strength in weakness, you are going to want this kind of Crazy Joy, and don't think you can't have it.

*song by FFH