Rejoice, no matter what!

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! – Philippians 4:4

A Christian friend of mine, now in her eighties, has kept a joyful spirit throughout her life. During World War II, in spite of dangers and separations, she and her husband were still able to laugh together at home. She recalls a summer when their laughter was overheard by a cynical neighbor. “What on earth do you two find to laugh about?” she grumbled.

Author Colleen Townsend Evans has an idea about why some can maintain joy, while others can’t. “This kind of tough joy can irritate those who might want it very much but, not knowing how it comes, choose to scoff instead.” Evans continues, “Joy is okay, the world seems to say, if we have some excuse for it. Like when your favorite team wins or you get a raise in pay. If we have no obvious reason for our joy, we’re likely to be judged.”

The Bible doesn’t say joy is a fruit of circumstance; it clearly states that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). To live a joy-filled life, we must “walk in the Spirit” (v.25). Then we can rejoice in spite of our circumstances. Paul was in prison when he said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

Your choice to rejoice may irritate some, but it will encourage others and glorify God. — Joanie Yoder                   

Because life’s circumstances change,

Our happiness may not remain;

But if we’re walking with the Lord,

Our inner joy He will sustain. – Sper

READ: Galatians 5:16-26

Joy comes from the Lord who

lives within us, not from what’s happening around us.

The Bible in one year:

• Galatians 4-6