May 25

Days Of Gladness

Then all the people began to eat and drink, to send out portions, and to rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that had been made known to them. — Neh 8:12 BSB

The whole assembly who had returned from exile made booths and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated like this. And there was great rejoicing. Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. The Israelites kept the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly, according to the ordinance. — Neh 8:17-18 BSB

Gladness is a source of health. If you can help a person to focus on the bright side of things, you’ve done much to restore vitality and hope in their life.

Whenever we choose optimism and joy, we are seeing life from God’s perspective and sharing in His eternal gladness. By nurturing this outlook, we can understand what Nehemiah and Ezra meant when they said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

If you carry a secret sorrow, share it with God, but don’t burden others needlessly. Instead, anoint your head and wash your face, so you don’t appear to be fasting or in distress. The God who sees your secret tears will comfort you openly (Matthew 6:17-18). The pain and suffering in the world are undeniable, and perhaps worse than we realize, but much of this suffering stems from sin and selfishness, which can only be driven out by love. However, even in suffering, we find opportunities for selfless ministry and devotion, which are the keys to a blessed life. As we dedicate ourselves to Christ’s work of rescuing souls from darkness and bringing them into the Kingdom of Life and Light, we share in His everlasting joy.

It must have been a time of great gladness when the exiles reviewed the completed walls that now surrounded their city. There is a special satisfaction that comes from seeing a task through to the end, knowing it was done to the best of our ability. One of the greatest joys of a holiday is the feeling of looking back on work well done, whether it’s in our own lives or in the lives of others.

Additionally, the people read from the Book of the Law of God each day. Let us take the Bible with us even on our vacations! We will discover fresh meaning as we study it in the beauty of nature—whether by a lake, in the mountains, along country lanes, or by the seashore. In such moments, One like the Son of Man will walk beside us, applying the Scriptures to our hearts until our spirits burn within us, and we are no longer sad.

Prayer

We thank You, Lord, for eyes that see, hearts that love, and natures that enjoy Your perfect gifts. O Father, in whom there is no change or shadow of turning. Amen.