1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:
6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.
12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
Nehemiah 8:1-12
I’m trying out a new product for my health and I think it’s making my PTSD symptoms worse. After having some strange dreams, I felt pretty bad in bed this morning. When I got out of bed, I asked the Lord, “You know about this, what I’m going through, how long of a battle it’s been, and how I feel today. You’ve allowed it and working it for my good, right?” He said, “Yes.”
For a little bit after that, I didn’t know what to think exactly. I wasn’t mad, but I was a little bewildered thinking back over the 56 years I’ve been dealing with this whole thing, thinking about all the times when I almost didn’t make it.
Ann and I talked about what I was experiencing during our coffee time. I told her I was sorry for all of it, the PTSD (although mine is ongoing), my health issues, lack of providing for her, etc. She said, “I love you and I wouldn’t be married to anyone else because you needed Jesus and so did I. I needed to be married to a man like you, Mark.”
Later, when Ann was getting ready for work, I read our daily devotionals to her. Wow, every one of the three we read each morning hit the center of our hearts, the cluster migraines, the other health and family issues, the PTSD…All of “it.”
I told Ann how God had told me that He knew and had allowed all of “it.”
I can’t even describe what it’s like to have Ann as my wife and for God to tell you deep in your spirit that He knows, that He’s got “this,” that it’s “all” working for your good, that He has a plan, and that He’s allowed it for His glory. It’s an amazing thing. It puts a joy in your heart that comes no other way. You have tears, but you know they’re generated by His working in your life. You know that – really – nothing else matters. And He gives you a peace that passes understanding because in your flesh, there’s no understanding it, and somehow, that’s better than okay.
Staying surrendered to His will is the only place that will bring His lasting trust, peace, rest, grace, mercy, love and joy to our hearts, minds and souls.
Count it all joy. Wow…What an amazing victory those four words offer us.
God bless,
Mark