Yesterday, I ended up being one verse above where I was the day before, so I’m finally crawling in bed and I thought to myself, I’m just gonna read backwards tonight and go to the verses before where I was yesterday. I’ve read them many times before, but as I read them tonight, it was just what my heart needed.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
-Philippians 4:4
Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the church in Philippi. He is talking about rejoicing in the Lord, while He is in prison!
Let that sink in for a minute.
I am sure Paul was not enjoying any comfortable conditions and he probably wasn’t in the best of moods. I know I wouldn’t be if I was in prison…shackles…crummy food (if any), etc. I love that his joy wasn’t based on positive thinking, but in the confidence He had in the Lord…his joy came from knowing that God was in control.
How confident are we that God is in control?
How confident are we that even amidst our current circumstances, God is still working everything to our good and for His glory?
How confident are we to have delight/joy in the Lord even when we feel like crying?
Rejoice…even when you don’t feel like it.
Sing His praises to the top of your lungs…even though you feel like you can’t breathe from your sorrows.
Delight in the goodness of your Father…even when you see nothing but bad staring you in the face.
Proverbs says that a joyful heart is like good medicine…so, maybe it would be safe to assume that rejoicing in the Lord is a cure for what burdens you? I’ve heard it said before of certain things, “it can’t hurt to try, right?”
Try it…God doesn’t disappoint. If He did, He wouldn’t be God. You will face more hurt if you don’t try it, quite honestly. Rejoicing in His grace, mercy, sovereignty, love and glory will never hurt.
Trust me.
Rejoice, Always.
Always, Rejoice.
