“Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4

Have you ever stopped and considered why you should rejoice in the Lord always?  After all, not everything that goes on is a cause for rejoicing.  That is true, but in that statement is where we find the answer as to why we can rejoice regardless of the situation and/or circumstance.  Most of the time that is how we determine whether we can “rejoice in the Lord” or not.  I mean take the present circumstances the corona virus is wreaking all kinds of havoc through trial, challenge, heartbreak, anxiety, fear and the like.  How do you rejoice in that?

The word rejoice is a translation of the Greek word chairo.  It means to enjoy a state of gladness, happiness or well-being.  You may scratch your head at the moment thinking, ‘doesn’t that indicate rejoicing is in reference to your circumstances?’  At first glance, I would have to agree that is what it looks like.  But look again at the instruction, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  Do you see the key component in the verse?  It is the Lord, the verse does not say rejoice in your circumstance, or enjoy a state of gladness regarding the corona virus, it says rejoice in the Lord.  This is a wonderful characteristic of being in relationship with Jesus Christ, that regardless of the situations or circumstances in life, enjoyable or difficult, stressful or peaceful, good or bad we know “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10) Our relationship with God through Jesus Christ is where we have incredible joy that gives us the reason to “rejoice in the Lord always” no matter what is going on around us.

People need encouragement, especially during a time like this.  The encouragement we can share is how to have hope in despair, peace in the storm, and the grace to endure.  For the believer this comes from rejoicing always in the Lord, because He is the one who has control over the circumstances, He truly is the victory we have over the stuff of this temporary and contrary life.

So, as scripture says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.”  Let your mind, attitude, and spirit say in your life today, I trust in Jesus so I can rejoice in the Lord!