Fig Trees & Joy

I have been going through some difficult times of late, for me anyway. I know there is much worse going on out there for other people, and sometimes I believe I am quite susceptible to a “pity party”, but….it’s MY journey I am living and learning through, and I share in the hope of helping someone else on the way.

I had a bit of a crying “jag” this morning over everything, feeling overwhelmed, and in chatting online with a dear believing sister, who prayed for me then and there (thank you, Sylvia!), I remembered the scripture that was brought back to my mind yesterday

A Hymn of Faith

17Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-19

HOW?????

How, when all the bad stuff is going on?

How, when you are mourning loss?

The answer is in verse 19…..

19[d]The Lord God is my strength;

GOD IS MY STRENGTH and rejoicing (looking for and finding the blessings in the midst of loss and trials) is the KEY to overcoming loss and sorrow. Loss and sorrow turn us back to HIM. Thanksgiving for blessings, gratitude and contentment with what we do have bring rejoicing and joy

The joy of the Lord is my strength….

. . . for the joy of the LORD is your strength. ~ Neh. 8:10

This is chorus my late husband Jim and I happily loved to sing. It’s a kid’s chorus (we used a lot of them in ministry), but we, as believers, are all God’s kids, no matter how “adult” we may be, and the words hold true for us!

These are the words of the version we sang:

The Joy Of The LORD Is My Strength

The joy of the LORD is my strength

The joy of the LORD is my strength

The joy of the LORD is my strength

He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more

He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more

He heals the broken-hearted and they cry no more

The joy of the LORD is my strength!

He gives me living water and I thirst no more

He gives me living water and I thirst no more

He gives me living water and I thirst no more

The joy of the LORD is my strength!

He fills my mouth with laughter

And I laugh, ha, ha

He fills my mouth with laughter

And I laugh, ha, ha (ha ha)

He fills my mouth with laughter

And I laugh, ha, ha

The joy of the LORD is my strength!

Here is one shorter kid’s version, giving you the tune of the song….

It’s good to sing and rejoice!!!!

AJ ❤