Rejoicing is a Choice + “Rejoice in the Lord Always”
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Rejoice In The Lord Always.
Rejoicing.
Joy is, in part, cultivated by rejoicing.
Rejoicing is the first principle of cultivating joy in sorrow.
“Rejoice” according to Strong’s Concordance is: #5463, “to be "cheer"ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off…” Brown Drivers Briggs defines it as “rejoice, be glad.”
Rejoicing is a command of Scripture:
“Rejoice evermore…” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
We often feel the following sentiment expressed by Frances Chan, “Rejoicing sounds too happy to be a command.” But, in spite of it “sounding too happy to be a command,” these verses include absolute imperative statements.
In the latter verse, Paul does not just give the instruction once and move on. He adds a reiteration of the command for the sake of emphasis. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” and just in case you didn’t catch it the first time, “again I say, rejoice!” Notice that Paul did not write, “Feel joyful, and again I say, feel joyful.” The command is not to create joy or joyful feelings, but to rejoice in truth, celebrate the goodness of God, and to choose to be glad in spite of what may be going on around us!
Paul didn’t write this instruction in ideal circumstances, but rather he wrote Philippians while on house arrest near the end of his arduous life. We know from many phrases in the Pauline epistles, that he was a man who faced incredible affliction, writing things like, “We were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears,” (2 Corinthians 7:5) and “insomuch that we despaired of life.” (2 Corinthians 1:8) Paul certainly did not always feel joyful, but rather chose to rejoice even while experiencing sorrow. In 2 Corinthians 6:10, Paul is listing things that validate his ministry in the eyes of others and says, “…as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” Or as NLT puts it: “…Our hearts ache, but always have joy.” Paul had learned that rejoicing was a decision and that rejoicing brought true joy into his life.
In Scripture, many times “rejoice” is used in times where celebrating and gladness would be natural, but many other times, it is used when the natural inclination would be quite the opposite.
Rejoicing is a choice to confess and focus on the goodness of God over the “badness” of life. Rejoicing is the decision you can make when you don’t feel joyful and the outlook is grim.
Rejoicing is a choice to display joyful actions. Rejoicing is a pathway we walk to joy.
Rejoicing is not an emotion to feel but a command to be obeyed. Rejoicing may, in fact, involve little to no feelings. It is not a result of feelings of joy, but rather the act of rejoicing that produces feelings of joy. Joy is on the other side of that obedient gladness. Rejoicing cultivates joy!
Scripture has several specific commands to rejoice IN times of suffering and trail:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations…” (James 1:2)
NLT: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:2)
“Blessed are you WHEN men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.” (Matthew 5:11-12)
“And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” (Acts 5:41)
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church.” (Colossians 1:24)
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4: 13)
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” (1 Peter 1:6)
Joy is cultivated by rejoicing.
Thank you for joining me for this journey!
Go grab your Bible and your journal!
I look forward to the power of this habit in your life. This is Unedited.