Metaphors and the Bible-The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength, part 2

As I wrote in the previous blog, this metaphor comes from the eighth chapter of Nehemiah and, as I see it, is about repentance.  Grace is stronger than sin…accepting grace overpowers guilt.  Joy in the Lord is strength.

I tried to write in the context of the passage but for me, this metaphor has even deeper meaning and broader context.  I believe that scripture is somehow living and speaks to us in many ways at varying levels across time.  Therefore, I am going to blog about how this metaphor speaks personally to me and how I have experienced this truth in the circumstances of my life.

Several years ago I lost my joy.  I did.  I couldn’t really explain it, and I still can’t to this day; but I without a doubt, I had lost my joy.  Times were very hard.  My entire life was caving in around me and…