“Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ The Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.’” –Nehemiah 8:9–11 (TNIV)
I served in church ministry as a worship leader for many years and considered it an honor to lead God’s people in praise and worship. When the unified body of Christ lifts their voice as an offering of praise to the Lord, it is simply glorious, a holy moment. But there are particular moments that I’m certain to never forget because of one special person….Gordy.
When Gordy was very young, an illness left him paralyzed. When I met Gordy, he had already been confined to a wheelchair for more than 60 years and his speech was unintelligible. Although burdened by his physical condition, he had a peaceful spirit and an infectious smile. I can still see him, center aisle, recklessly lifting his arms in uncontrollable surrender with limbs flailing through the air; and at the end of each song I would hear him let out a faint, yet joyful sigh: “Yeah.”
Gordy had every reason to grieve the loss of his abilities. Instead, he chose worship.
He had every reason to live discouraged. Instead, he chose joy.
The lessons I learned from Gordy are the same as what the people of Israel needed to hear on this day. Today is holy, be filled with the joy of the Lord, for you belong to him and his grace is enough (2 Cor. 12:9).
So what is the Lord saying to us today?
Oswald Chambers wrote, “God is so immediately near and so immensely strong that I get more and more joyous in my confidence in Him and less and less careful how I feel.”
If you are in a season of discouragement and struggling to lift your arms in reckless abandon to the King, take a moment, close your eyes, and picture yourself giving that burden to the Savior and he in return giving you the gift of his joy.
Today, Gordy is with Jesus, fully restored and joyfully dancing around the throne. Thanks, Gordy, for the reminder that joy is not dependent on our abilities, nor hindered by our inabilities, but is found in Christ alone!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rhonda Gervais lives in San Juan Capistrano, CA, with her husband Ron. She has been a part of Novo Operations since 2006 and has served as the Director of Human Resources since 2007. In 1984, Rhonda and Ron moved from IL to CA to attend the Vineyard Institute of Ministry and have since served the church in pastoral, small group, and worship ministries. They have two married daughters, five grandchildren, and two fur granddogs.