在新奧爾良博物館裡，陳列著許多用舊塑膠瓶做成的彩色藝術品，有的被剪成羽毛形狀，有的像燈罩。一名導覽員分享了使用這些材料的理念：「對於新奧爾良這個歷經磨難的城市來說，我們學會用僅有的東西來創造歡樂和美好。我們不是只關注艱苦的歲月，我們還讚揚那份堅韌不拔的精神。」

尼希米和以色列民也經歷過艱苦的歲月，但他們倚靠從上帝而來的喜樂，堅韌前行。雖然他們國破家亡，被擄到異邦，但後來終能返回耶路撒冷。可是當他們回到故土，想要重建保護耶路撒冷的城牆時，就遭到外族人強烈的反對(尼希米記6章）。即使在城牆完工，他們聚集慶祝，聆聽上帝的律法時，他們的心情依然沉重，以致「聽見律法書上的話都哭了」（8章9節）。但尼希米提醒百姓，他們可以靠上帝而得到喜樂與力量，他們當謹記上帝是誰，也要記得祂如何帶領他們渡過難關。尼希米告訴他們：「因靠耶和華而得的喜樂是你們的力量。」（10節）

專注於上帝便能使我們得到喜樂和力量，特別是在我們面臨困境時更是如此。上帝的能力和特質，以及祂的話語可以更新我們的思想，使我們「大大快樂」（12節），供應我們所需的能力和韌性。

In the midst of colorful creations made from old plastic bottles cut to resemble feathers and even lampshades, a tour guide at a New Orleans Museum shared the thinking behind the use of such material. “For a city that’s had such hardship, we’ve also learned to use what we have to create joy and beauty. We don’t focus only on the hard times; we celebrate the resilience.”

Nehemiah and the Israelites also faced hardship but resiliently pressed on in God’s joy. They’d been captured and taken away from their home, and at last were able to return to Jerusalem from exile (Nehemiah 3:7-12, 18). But upon arriving, they still faced opposition to rebuild the wall that protected Jerusalem (Nehemiah 6). Even after the wall was completed and they gathered for a celebration, hearing the words of God’s law, their spirits were heavy. They were “weeping as they listened” (8:9). But Nehemiah reminded them that they could find joy and strength in God—remembering who He was and what He’d brought them through. Nehemiah told them, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (v. 10).

Focusing on God can give us “great joy” and strength too, especially when our circumstances seem dire. God’s ability, character, and the Scriptures can renew our minds and bring us joy (v. 12)—providing the strength and resilience we need.