Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
I have heard it again and again – rejoice! Repeated endlessly by worship leaders, preachers and sympathizers in exhortations, devotionals, sermons – “rejoice” I am told, even if I don’t feel like it. I am tempted to think, is this some kind of denial? How can I rejoice when trials, sorrow, and hardships stare me in the face? Especially now, with the pandemic having claimed the lives of two dear church members, and the “new normal” seeming so abnormal!
Then again, how can I not take Paul’s words to the Philippian church seriously? Does he have an important point to make? My reflections led me to the following thoughts. First, the sorrow and hardships I might experience are not a verdict that God does not love me. On the contrary, his love is never diminished, no matter what I am going through. Nothing, yes, nothing changes God’s love for me. That itself is a reason to rejoice!
Second, I am to rejoice “in the Lord”! In a fallen world, hardships dampen the spirits but “in Christ” there is an inexplicable joy. Where is my focus – to temporary situations or to everlasting victory in Jesus? My focus could become my idol. Sadness and sorrow of the temporary are lousy idols to be worshipping! I might as well trade it for the “joy of the Lord”! And finally, Jesus meets me in every one of my hardships. In his incarnation he understands every one of those gut-wrenching feelings I experience. His presence imparts comfort and provides strength to cope.
Rejoice, indeed, in the grace of Christ. There is every reason to!
Prayer: Lord, I may not understand everything that happens around me, but help me know your grace. While you give me strength to cope, grant me to experience and express your joy in every circumstance. Amen.
By Danny Zachariah
Thank God .that we have Jesus to call upon for help in our trials..
Godly joy is the fruit of the Spirit. It goes beyond what we “physically see” and focuses on things above, on that which is eternal and eternally true Suffering and sorrow may accompany us in this world, but we must never allow the transitory to cloud the wonderful promises of our great and loving God. Whatever we may encounter in this life cannot separate us from the Father’s love. Rejoice!
Thank you Danny for your focus on rejoicing. It reminded me of Nehemiah 8:10b “the joy Of the Lord is your strength” and Hebrews 12:1-3 “the joy set before him.” I hunger for and feed on his joy that is Good News living and sharing; living hope grounded in living faith in and of Jesus!
Hello again Danny,
Yes thanks for the timely reminder .. it’s good to get that message especially from our brothers and sisters in India and Bangladesh where I have seen Joy in our members that is not dependent on their physical possessions it’s good to be reminded about Loving God and each other but Joy comes right after Love as a fruit of the spirit .. Roger Lippross
Truly He has Accomplished for us what we could never do, set us Free from sin and Eternal death! Jn 8:32