Rejoice—Really???
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:4-5 NIV)
REALLY??? Rejoice—always? Personally, I prefer “Rejoice in the Lord sometimes.” Doesn’t that seem more realistic? I mean really!
Yes, God’s word tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. In all things. Not because of all things. See the difference? If you rejoiced because of all things, then we’d be talking about terrific tribulation, stupendous struggle, and sweet suffering. The truth is that many situations in life can be painful. We don’t rejoice because of a loved one’s death, or because of economic woes. But we can rejoice in the midst of those things. God wants us to rejoice in Him, in all circumstances. Even though you struggle, find your joy in God.
“Let your gentleness be known to all” is tied to rejoicing in God at all times. I find that when I don’t rejoice in God, I’m more irritable, less patient, and generally less gentle than I am when my heart and mind are focused on Christ. Gentleness is a product of a life of joy.
“The Lord is near.” This reminds us that our source of joy is not far off. Deuteronomy 30:11-14 says, “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.” We have a constant source of strength at our disposal, one that never gives up on us or runs out of resources. The Lord is near. With the Lord near, we have no reason not to rejoice.
Michael Cassara, pastor of Nesconset Christian Church, writes:
In her book, THE HIDING PLACE, Corrie Ten Boom relates an incident that taught her to be thankful for things we normally would not be thankful for. She and her sister, Betsy, prisoners of the Nazis, had just been transferred to the worst prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and infested with fleas. Their Scripture reading from their smuggled Bible that morning in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted. Corrie finally agreed to somehow thank God for even the fleas.
During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings in their barrack without guard interference. Several months later they learned that the guards would not enter the barracks because of the fleas[i].
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