Is it possible to be cheerful and joyous all the time?
No matter what the situation is?
No matter what is happening to you personally?
It’s impossible, right?
Why? Because not every situation we find ourselves in is a good one. People hurt us, the car breaks down, there’s not enough food to eat, we lose our job…our spouse gets sick.
And look at the world around us. Wars are happening everywhere, morality is taking a back seat to sin, self-control from our leaders is unseen, name calling and ridicule has become the language of our culture. For so many, hope has been replaced with pessimism and mistrust of each other.
There are just so many situations in our world today that don’t warrant any kind of rejoicing from us.
But what if I told you that none of that matters.
What if I told you that rejoicing in the good and BAD times is not at our discretion; and that as Christians, our circumstances and feelings should never stop us from rejoicing, praying, giving thanks, showing respect, or acting kindly.
Even more, what if I told you that God is not concerned with your comfort in this world?
What do you say to those things? What do you think? How will you respond?
The Apostle Paul says in Scripture:
“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”
--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (MSG)
I want you to really take that verse in. It’s so important because within this verse Paul is sharing Gods way of thinking and Gods desire for us as we live out our life. We can rejoice during our trials and tribulations…it’s our choice. You know it is.
Jesus modeled this choice for us by the way He,
“…endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him…”
--Hebrews 12:2 (VOICE)
It’s because of what Jesus did on the cross that we all have the promise and blessing of Heaven in our future. His suffering secured our redemption and as His followers we have every reason to rejoice. It’s not a suggestion, brothers and sisters, it is a command and one we are to follow forever.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
--Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
Up above I stated that God is not concerned with your comfort in this world, and as harsh as that sounds…it’s true. You see, more than our comfort level with whatever situation we face in life, God is looking at and concerned with, our character. How we choose to respond to whatever is thrown at us in life, will reveal the love of Jesus we have inside, or it won’t. That’s our choice.
He is worthy, isn’t He?
No matter what happens to us, He is worthy of our joy, honor, and praise, right?
I think so.
As believers we can rejoice in Gods Salvation. We can rejoice when we’re persecuted by others because we are, “…being counted as worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” (Acts 5:41) We can rejoice in His strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) We can rejoice because He is working good for us. (Romans 8:28) We can rejoice in the gifts He’s given us that will not be taken away. (Romans 11:29) We can rejoice in the promise that no matter what we face, Heaven is waiting for us. (Matthew 5:11-12)
We have so many reasons to choose to be happy…joyful…cheerful.
I’m not going to tell you it’s easy, because I’ve failed at giving Him praise in any situation more times than I can count. But it is possible…and He is worth it.
So what do you say?
Can you smile in the face of pain and opposition, no matter what it is, and rejoice in the Lord?
