Rejoice In The Lord

Jason works for a community charity in Birmingham.

Philippians 4:4 (NIV) 
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

In this letter to the church of Philippi, Paul is encouraging fellow believers to live ‘winsomely’ – in a way that will stand out to those around them and genuinely draw people toward Christ. Yet, the concept of rejoicing ‘always’ somehow seems so easy and so hard to do. It begs the question, does our joy find its root and sustenance in God, or do we search for it in other places? What about when we find ourselves in circumstances that are painful or complicated – such as illness, job loss, difficult relationships, or bereavement? 

Christ followers throughout history have needed to be reminded (commanded even?) to seek joy in the Lord – it’s not just us! And it certainly doesn’t always come naturally; it is a decision, a daily pursuit, a habit that transforms our outlook over time. In the difficult times that you, I and the Philippian church endure, we can choose to look to the Great Comforter and choose to rejoice – knowing that he sees all that we are going through and cares more deeply than we can grasp.

Trying to hold on to joy in our Saviour is part of the journey. But this joy functions differently than the happiness of the here and now. It doesn’t depend on our present circumstances but stems from a growing trust in our living, loving, powerful God, who sits with us in the lows and the highs. If this concept feels out of reach, just start small. Try writing down two gifts from God that bring you gratitude.

Prayer - Dear God, thank you for being with us in every circumstance. Please help us be more and more aware of you in our lives each day.