Rejoice!

Have you noticed on the news, social media, conversations at work or even possibly at home things can tend towards disparagement these days?  This is hopefully not true of the church but our culture is being pushed towards controversy and disunity and that leads to discouragement.  Perhaps some reading this post have been struggling with the disappointment of not participating in their favorite memorial day tradition this year, or having a summer event or vacation cancelled.  Some may be discouraged over a lack of employment, or struggling to stay sane while cooped up in the home.  Whatever circumstance Satan is using to get you down there is reason for rejoicing.  So, here is some encouragement for rejoicing.

Philippians 4:4 tells us to ”Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice”.  There is always a reason to rejoice in the Lord, no matter what our circumstances are.

1 Peter 1:6 says, ”In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ”  Even in the midst of trials rejoicing can be present.  The apostle Paul gave the imperative to rejoice while in prison.  But rejoice in what?  The verses before this tell us, ”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Much to rejoice in in this passage, the mercy of God towards us sinners, the grace of God to be born again, possessing a living hope in Christ, the resurrection of Christ that gives us hope of our future resurrection with Him, an inheritance that is indestructible, and a salvation that is guarded in heaven.  All the suffering and disappointments in the world seem pretty small in comparison to these truths.

So, in the discouragement of Covid 19, or a negative medical diagnosis, or the disappointment of plans not going right, remember that we have a great living hope to rejoice in.  Rejoice in the Lord always.  Here are some encouraging psalms for rejoicing.

Psalm 5:11 ”But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing for you,”

Psalm 9:13-14 ”Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.”

Psalm 31:7-8 ”I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.”

Psalm 40:16 ”But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, "Great is the LORD!"

Psalm 90:14 ” Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”

Psalm 97:1 ” The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!”

Psalm 118:24 ” This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”