"The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 I've heard that verse for as long as I can remember. It's one of those verses we put on coffee mugs and wall signs. We quote it when someone is going through a hard time. We sing songs about it in church. But lately, I've been thinking about what it actually means. Because if I'm being truthful, there are days when I don't feel particularly joyful. There are days when I'm tired. Days when I'm frustrated with people. Days when something is weighing heavily on my mind. Days when I'm worried about my family, disappointed by circumstances, or simply worn down by everyday life. But the Scripture doesn't say, "The joy of the Lord is your strength...when everything is going well." It simply says: The joy of the Lord is your strength. Maybe we've confused joy with happiness. Happiness tends to depend on what is happening around us. A good day makes us happy. ...