I’m in a very contemplative mood. In fact, I feel quite weary. There’s plenty of tough circumstances to go around. We’ve had two deaths in our family in the last couple of months. We also have a family member who is struggling with addiction and a number who don’t know Jesus. The thought of them facing an eternity without Him is very sobering.
And, so many friends are dealing with hard situations as well. Even though, in John 16:33, Jesus told us this would be the case, it doesn’t make it easy to deal with death, broken relationships, addiction, illness and the like. This world is full of trials and problems and at the moment they weigh heavy on my soul.
Sometimes I handle the trials of life well and others times, not so much. I think it comes down to my perspective. If I get swallowed up in the details of the moment and see only what’s going wrong, life becomes a drudgery. However, when I can gain an eternal view, even in the midst of hard times, my outlook is different.
Right now, my heart is heavy and I need God’s truth.
Turning to the Bible, I come across a verse that if someone said it to me right now, I’d take it as a trite answer and very insensitive.
But, no one said it. I read it. It’s I Thessalonians 5 :16 – “Rejoice Evermore.”
Rejoice Evermore! This unconditional command seems impossible. With all that’s going on, rejoicing is the last thing I feel like doing. But, since God said it, I’ll take this as an invitation to dig deeper, asking Him to show me how this is possible.
Lord, how is it possible to rejoice evermore?
How is it Possible to Rejoice Evermore?
Rejoicing Requires Dependence Upon the Holy Spirit
After years of trying to obey God’s commands in my own strength, I must first recognize that obedience requires dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit. Until I understood this, I literally wore myself out trying to be like Jesus in my own strength. A life of self fueled “obedience” leads to burn out and deeper sin.
“It’s all up to me” is a lie from the pit of hell. It’s prideful and sinful.
Learning what it means to rejoice evermore is no different than any other command. It can only be obeyed by yielding to the Holy Spirit within me.
What Does it Mean to Rejoice Evermore?
When Paul tells us to rejoice, he uses the Greek word “chairo”, which means to be cheerful, calmly happy or well off, be glad. “Chario” is derived from the root word “charis”, which means grace, or unmerited spiritual blessings granted to those who trust in Jesus Christ.
So, in the Greek language, “rejoice” and “grace” are closely related. Rejoicing is seen as a natural response to receiving and experiencing God’s grace. The bedrock quality of rejoicing is trusting and resting in what has been done for me, apart from anything I could ever do. The more I comprehend this unbelievable fact, the less I’ll strive for value and purpose based on what I do and how the world sees me.
“Evermore” comes from the Greek word “pantoteh” which literally means every when, or at all times, always.
So, I’m to be glad and cheerful, at all times, based on the fact that I’ve been freely given God’s spiritual blessings.
All times!
When I’m grieving, my joy comes from God, fullness of all joy, and the grace He’s given me.
When life is fun and my wife and I are loving hanging out with our grandkids and kids, my joy comes from God, fullness of all joy, and the grace He’s given me.
When relations are strained or broken, my joy comes from God, fullness of all joy, and the grace He’s given me.
When life seems stale and plain, my joy comes from God, fullness of all joy, and the grace He’s given me.
When I’m afraid and worried, my joy comes from God, fullness of all joy, and the grace He’s given me.
I’m always living in a physical world, with real trials, problems and heartaches? So, if I am to make this command to “rejoice always” a real, legitimate part of my life, certain spiritual truths, based on the “grace” or unmerited favor bestowed upon me, can’t be forgotten.
Rejoicing in God’s Grace
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. (Ephesians 1:3-8a NASB).
Rejoicing in God’s grace, shown to me in His love and sacrifice for my sins, sustains me and gives me courage.
Before the world began, I was chosen to be loved as a child by God Almighty. My eternal relationship with God, my new Father, was secured by the cruel death of His Son Jesus, the Messiah, on a Roman cross. This was all done for the praise of the weightiness or glory of God’s grace. His grace, was literally lavished upon me, abounding and overflowing, manifested in the shedding of Jesus’ life blood.
This is how I rejoice evermore. Regardless of what I’m going through, the root of joy is God’s grace, expressed in His love. It happened before the world began, so nothing can change His grace for me today.
In God’s grace, I rejoice evermore.
God’s grace gives me a peace which is greater than any circumstance I can face, including the very hard difficulties I face today.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NASB).
In my opinion whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has planned for us (Romans 8:18 J.B. Phillips Translation).
Prayer
Lord, You have totally answered my prayer. Though hard times continue and problems are not resolved, I rejoice in You. Your word has given me great courage. Please help me to take each care, each concern and cast upon You because You care for me. I can stop striving to make everything “okay” for me to be all right. My hope and stability is in You. I rejoice in the grace You showed me ,before I was even born. And I know nothing can change that.
In You, and in Your love and grace, I rejoice evermore.
Amen
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 NASB)
Journal Time
With your journal in hand, spend time thinking about things going on in your life which are hard. Write a prayer asking God how to trust Him in the difficulties you face. Even in the midst, ask Him to show you how to rejoice in Him during these and all moments in your life.
Other Posts in our Rhythms of Joy Series:
Joy is important because it’s an experience of God
Please Check out the Cola City Podcast . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.
Be looking for the Living Waters YouTube channel coming soon.
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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