07/05/2025
Recently, wars, viral infections, broken families, political issues, mental problems, and deaths are some of the most intriguing and prevalent scenarios anywhere in the world. There is no place on earth now that is not facing these issues. We are literally in the last days.
In the darkest hours, in the most problematic moments, and when death is knocking on almost every community's door, what keeps the disciples remaining in the faith?
Nehemiah 8:10 says, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." This verse talks about celebrating because God's joy is our strength. This means that celebrating and enjoying do not depend on our situations or emotions. We should celebrate and enjoy because the Lord is joyful. There is joy that comes from the Lord.
We see that in order to remain motivated, encouraged, and on fire to obey and continue believing, it depends on the joy of the Lord.
To answer "what keeps the disciples believing?" is to answer "what gives the disciples strength?"
It is the joy of the Lord that gave them strength. It is the same joy that will give us strength now.
This is a matter of priority. Our top priority should be how to know the joy of the Lord. If we prioritize only the joy of the Lord and what pleases Him, no matter what we are going through, nothing can overcome us.
One of the greatest verses that talk about what gives pleasure to God is from Hebrews 11:6, which says, 'without faith it is impossible to please Him.' God takes pleasure in faith, in those who believe. The beauty of faith is described in verse 1 of the same chapter, which states, 'faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.' This verse shows that if we have faith, there is no need for evidence, because faith itself is the evidence of the things we hope for.
Even if you don't feel it or see it, He's working. This is faith—even without evidence. Faith itself is the evidence of things unseen. This is what gives pleasure to the Lord.
In your darkest and loneliest struggles, it is not what you feel that matters, but what He feels. The disciples' joy depends on what gives pleasure to God.
Right now, if you're sad, remember that your strength is the joy of the Lord. Nobody can take that away from you and me. It's okay to be sad, mad, or alone, and even if nobody is happy for you, your strength still comes from the joy of the Lord. Hallelujah!
If you please God before men, your strength will be untouchable, strong, and enduring—like the strongest force in the universe.
Joshua 1:5-9 — BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS!
“No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
