“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!”
(Philippians 4:4, NET)
There are times when rejoicing can be hard. Circumstances happen to us. Problems come to us. Things weigh on us. It is called life. Life happens, even to the believer.
Yet.
Paul tells the believers in Philippi to rejoice. Not only once, but he repeated it. Rejoice.
Paul, as we well remember, was writing from a prison cell. This was not the place for exuberance. What would he rejoice about?
Why should I rejoice, especially when something is happening that weighs on me? In times of difficult circumstances, it is helpful to focus on Biblical truth. I found five truths based on God’s word that can help me rejoice if I would focus on them.
Truth #1. I have a relationship with the God of the universe. (John 1:12-13, Rom. 8:38-39) The one, true God planned to save me through Jesus. He knows me and loves me.
Truth #2. My sins are forgiven. (Ps. 103:12, I John 1:9) Because of Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross, my sins have been forgiven, past, present, and future.
Truth #3. God will never leave me. (Deut. 31:8, Mt. 28:20) He has promised to never leave me alone. The Holy Spirit is with me right now.
Truth #4. He has called and equipped me to serve. (I Pet. 2:9) Jesus has called me to serve Him and His church and has given me gifts, talents, and abilities to do so.
Truth #5. I have an eternal home waiting for me. (Jn. 14:3) When my life ends, Jesus’s promises will be fulfilled. Eternity with Jesus awaits me.
All these things are possible because Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead. He is the guarantor of those promises and His word is sure.
Truth is the antidote to error. In the same way, truth is the antidote to bad thinking. Take these five truths and use them. Engage with the Scriptures to find others.
Rejoice!
If you have other reasons and Scriptural truths, leave a comment.
Mark Riser - Apologist 