"Getting Your Joy Back"

Nehemiah 2:2 NKJV

2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing but sorrow of heart.” So I became dreadfully afraid,

Principle:   When you get on track with purpose you get your joy back.

Joel 1:12 NKJV

12 The vine has dried up, And the fig tree has withered; The pomegranate tree, The palm tree also, And the apple tree— All the trees of the field are withered; Surely joy has withered away from the sons of men.

When you get your joy back:

#1.   Your Soul is back.

Psalm 23:3 NKJV

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

God will restore your soul.

#2.   Your Life is Back

Luke 10:34 NKJV

34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

#3.   Your Direction is Back.

Isaiah 58:12 ASV 1901

12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

God restores paths to dwell in.

Isaiah 42:16 NKJV

16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

God will lead you in paths you’ve never known before.

Isaiah 45:2 NKJV

2 ‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.

God will make the crooked places straight.

#4.  Your Future is Back.

Jeremiah 29:11–13 NKJV

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

God will give you back a hope and a future.

#5.  Your Health Comes Back.

Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV

17 For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’

God will restore your health and heal you.

#6.   Your Fortunes come Back.

Job 42:10 NKJV

10 And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes.

Jeremiah 29:14 NKJV

14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

Psalm 126:4 NKJV

4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord, As the streams in the South.

Psalm 126:4 NLT Restore our fortunes, Lord as streams renew in the desert.

#7.   The Years are Back.

Joel 2:25 NKJV

25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

God will restore the Years the locust has eaten - the years that have been consumed

Proverbs 9:11 NKJV

11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

God will multiply your days and add years to your life

Everything Comes Back When Your Joy Comes Back.

What Shall We do”?

Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV

10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

It is Time to:

I.   Eat the Fat.

II.  Drink the Sweet - Turn your life from bitterness into sweetness.

III.  Send portions - give gifts.

IV.   Declare this is a holy day.

V.     Do not Sorrow.

VI.   For the Joy of the Lord is your strength.

Discussion Questions:

Tear gas makes people cry and laughing gas makes people giggle, what other kinds of gases do you wish existed?

Have you lost your joy and just didn’t know it? Please share.

Please Read Nehemiah 2:1-5 and share what this passage ministers to you specifically about having a purpose birthed in your heart.

Do you know your God-given purpose? If yes, please share it and what you are doing to walk in it. If No, please pray with your group for God to put a God-breathed purpose in your heart.