“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
"Wow. Always? Paul, are you sure you mean always?" These words, whether I like it or not, are usually the first words that come barreling into my brain when I read this verse. What on earth does Paul mean by rejoicing always!?! Is this even possible? Yes. But not in the way I usually imagine. When I think of rejoicing always I generally picture myself putting my nose to the grindstone and forcing one more smile when I don't feel like it. But how can this be what God desires of us when he also asks us to live lives of honesty? In the past few months, I feel that the Lord has been teaching me what it means to rejoice in Him always. Needless to say it has not come "naturally."
In all honesty, I have found it rather difficult this summer to rejoice in much of anything. It's not even that I have had a particularly hard summer (my friends' plex floor saw more tears my freshman year of college that I have shed this summer). And I have been blessed with many wonderful experiences at work and at home. However, in the middle of summer, three jobs, and fundraising it's just simply not on my list of "To do's" to remember to shout joyfully to the Lord. Yet, it seemed that this is the action God has been calling me to throughout the past few months.
Recently I have been reading a book called Trusting God by Jerry Bridges. In it the author makes the observation that the life that God calls us to, is one of constant self-improvement to become more like Christ. Bridges writes: “We can be sure that the development of a
beautiful Christlike character will not occur in our lives without
adversity. Think of those lovely graces
that Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. The first four traits he mentions—love, joy,
peace, patience—can only be developed in the womb of adversity.” (Bridges 186)
Patience does not spring from a zen-like place of peace and understanding of all
things. Patience is born when in a
moment of frustration one chooses grace instead of anger; patience instead
of irritation.
I learned very quickly that I did not have the strength to act patiently when 12 hour work days foster a spirit of frustrated perseverance with a slice of self pity. Not only was I feeling the normal daily strains of life itself but I would also find myself getting upset that I could not conjure up the love, joy, peace and patience my King called me to. However, it was when I stumbled on Psalm 118 that I realized I was missing something: "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 118:1 (NLT). I realized I was not supposed to rejoice in the circumstances of my life pleasurable or otherwise, I am to rejoice in the Lord! For He is good!
I learned very quickly that I did not have the strength to act patiently when 12 hour work days foster a spirit of frustrated perseverance with a slice of self pity. Not only was I feeling the normal daily strains of life itself but I would also find myself getting upset that I could not conjure up the love, joy, peace and patience my King called me to. However, it was when I stumbled on Psalm 118 that I realized I was missing something: "Give thanks to the Lord for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 118:1 (NLT). I realized I was not supposed to rejoice in the circumstances of my life pleasurable or otherwise, I am to rejoice in the Lord! For He is good!
Light bulb!
No wonder I wasn't able to rejoice in my life. It's not enough. God is more than enough. Although the spirit of hopelessness still seeks (and on bad days succeeds) to ensnare my mind in thoughts of self pity, since this realization I have found something to place my hope in. Not in things of this world but in the goodness of my God who is greater than all the words of every language that seek to describe Him.
"This is the Lord's doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:23-24
