Two-minute read.
Rejoicing in the Lord always refers to a heart posture. We choose to focus on the Savior’s promises and not on the circumstances around us. When Joshua and the Israelite army brought down the walls of Jericho, they did it with rejoicing. Facing the impossible job of breaching the city, they followed the Lord’s commands, and seven priests marched around the city with trumpets. On the seventh day, they shouted, and the walls came tumbling down. For six days, nothing happened, but on the seventh day God moved.
Laura Story wrote the song, “The Blessing,” in a dark valley of uncertainty over the future of her husband’s health and life. While in line at a grocery store, the thought occurred to her. What if your blessings come through raindrops? What if healing comes through tears? She wrote the lines on the receipt and threw it into her purse. Months later, it became a song that has ministered to many people, including me, in their darkest moments.
Sometimes, rejoicing comes with tears.
When Paul uses the word “always,” he means in seasons of waiting, times of loss, and moments of uncertainty, something we will all experience. Joy doesn’t deny hardship but coexists with it. And Paul wants us to get this point because he repeats it. Whenever scripture repeats something, we should pay attention.
Joy doesn’t come from perfect circumstances; it comes from the Savior. Because God doesn’t change, your joy can remain, despite the situation. Each day, we have a choice of where we will focus our thoughts. When we keep the Son in our eyes, we can rejoice always.
Choosing joy means deciding to trust God and focus on His promises. Knowing glory awaits us after we finish our time on earth helps us persevere through the heartache and rejoice despite our circumstances. As my pastor says, the first 100 years are hard, but after that, it’s all glory.
Reflection:
What would it look like for you to choose joy today—not because of your circumstances, but because of who God is?
Joy Thought:
Step into joy by spending time with God.
