Rejoice! What does that word even mean? I remember recently going through a season where it seemed like there was a lot going on in my life personally and in the lives of those around me. Have you ever just been at a place where all you could say was, “Jesus!?!” Well, this was that season. It got to the point where a co-worker was driving and randomly saw me and noticed that I looked really sad. Anyone who knows me knows that I always have a smile on my face and an optimistic, happy go lucky, personality no matter what is going on. Yet that day, I realized my focus was off and it showed. What was going on affected me to the point where it could be seen in my facial expression at that time. I remember someone in the past saying, “LaRonda! You always have a smile on your face! No matter what, you’re always smiling and optimistic. If I ever see you without a smile I know that something is really going on.” Weird how that comment came to mind after hearing the words of my co-worker who observed the change in my countenance that day. There was so much happening that I just had to choose not to be stressed and to trust God. Looking back, I realized that I was going through spiritual attacks. It literally felt like I was being Mike Tysoned in the spiritual realm and it seemed to come from out of nowhere. As I was reading the Word one day, I remember coming across a lot of scriptures that encourage us to rejoice as Christians. Of course, in that season, I can honestly tell you that rejoicing was the last thing I was thinking about doing. Who rejoices when they’re going through hell? As I kept reading and noticing more and more scriptures that encourage us to rejoice as Christians I was reminded that it didn’t matter what was going on or how I felt, the Word encourages us to REJOICE! So, how do you rejoice when you don’t feel so joyful?
- Fix Your Focus
Now I know some of you may be thinking, “Hold up…wait a minute!” And I thought the same thing. “Why would I be happy or joyful or rejoice about something that doesn’t feel so happy and joyful?” It seems to contradict what may be going on or to be fake to be joyful and jolly when you’re in a rough season. But here’s the thing…the basis for rejoicing should not even be dependent on what’s going on externally. As Christians, we have much reason to rejoice because of what has already been done within us internally.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” -2 Corinthians 5:17
Because of the work Jesus did on the cross, we have a reason to rejoice no matter what is happening! When we focus on that truth, we are able to rejoice ALWAYS!”
I see rejoicing as similar to putting a phone on a charger. Rejoicing helps you to maintain your joy like plugging in your phone to the charger helps you keep a charge. Rejoicing is like a recharging of your joy. Paul was in prison, locked in chains, and he was still thankful and joyful, praising God! Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Paul’s repetition of the word rejoice in this scripture emphasizes it’s importance. Actually, when you think about it, rejoicing regardless of what is going on should cause us to shift our focus to Christ and off of the situation. There is joy in the presence of the Lord! (Psalm 16:11)
Why is it important to rejoice or that we maintain our joy? God must have known that the enemy would try to steal it! That’s probably one of the reasons he reinforces this so much throughout the Word. John 10:10 says, “The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. God’s come to give us life and life more abundantly!” If we allow the enemy to steal our joy, we give him an open door to do damage in our life. He can come and take other things as well through this open door. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” Since the joy of the Lord is our strength, it makes sense why the enemy would want to steal it! Imagine someone kicking your legs from under you…that’s an example of what it visually looks like if you allow the enemy to steal your joy. It prevents you from moving forward and running the race God has called you to run! Notice I said ALLOW! Just because situations arise you don’t have to allow them to steal your joy. I recall shopping at a store once and noticed an employee who was always smiling and happy every time I visited. Joy just seemed to exude from them so one day I couldn’t help but to stop and tell them that their attitude was refreshing. I also asked them if they knew Jesus and they said, “That’s the reason I’m so joyful!” Don’t you just love that! It’s encouraging to see other people exuding joy despite their circumstances. I didn’t personally know the employee at the store but I’m sure they had their own battles throughout life like all of us, yet their joy was consistent in spite of what may or may not have been happening. As I think about it, their joy was reflective of God’s consistency in our life.
- Trust God
I love the story of the 3 Hebrew boys in the book of Daniel. Their ability to trust and praise God in the midst of the fire (literally) is amazing! Not to mention that King Nebuchadnezzar noticed a fourth man in the fire with them which represents God’s continual presence with us. No matter what we go through, we can find comfort in the fact that God is with us and that He never leaves us nor forsakes us. The 3 Hebrew boys could have looked at their circumstances and allowed it to discourage them or to allow it to get them in fear but they didn’t. They chose to stand on God’s Word! And at the end of the day, they didn’t even look like what they went through. They didn’t look like they had been through the fire or even smell like it. Only God can do that! They chose to put their focus on God and trust in Him!
- Faith It
I’ve learned to “Faith It” and use my authority against the attacks of the enemy. REJOICE… yep, even when you don’t feel like it. Why? Because that’s what the Bible says 🙂 As Christians, we aren’t to operate by our feelings! The Bible says “the just shall live by faith!” Forget your feelings! Rejoicing is a choice! It’s a choice you have to make no matter what is going on. It takes faith to rejoice! And faith pleases God 🙂 Rejoicing and giving thanks and being thankful in all circumstances is a sign of spiritual maturity. Joy is a fruit of the spirit. It takes faith to rejoice in the midst of the not so happy moments! (When the absolute last thing you feel like doing is to rejoice). It goes against what your flesh tells you to do! No, I’m not saying you should not cry or show any emotions (or go through your process) but it shouldn’t be what rules or dominates you! Don’t stay there! We as Christians aren’t to be moved by how we feel…or even by what we see. We are to be moved by God’s Word! And God’s Word tells us to REJOICE!
Great post, LaRonda! It really made me pause and reflect on what it means to have joy and what that looks like in the life of a Christian. In the past, I’ve been concerned with the perceived image of a Christian woman- super bubbly, soft spoken, mild mannered, etc. But I think that image misses the mark because it doesn’t allow for the fullness of expression of our uniqueness in Christ. We are complexly made in the image of God so there’s no cookie cutter way to behave. Our joy is a reflection of our trust in the character of our Lord, knowing that he is faithful and powerful and merciful and just. Joy can be present in the midst of dark situations because it’s not circumstantial. Joy is not the same as happiness, joy is inside out. And joy might not always put a smile on your face….and that’s ok. God gave us a wealth of emotions that we can express and He’s able to handle all of them.
Amen!!