The Way We Should LiveSample

Rejoice No Matter What

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Choose to rejoice. Choose to rejoice always. Choose to rejoice always in the Lord.

We know Paul feels this deeply because he gives the command twice, as if to say, “This is so important. Rejoice! Do it!” This is not a recommendation but a command. Make a choice to rejoice in God. Choose to respond with joy regardless of the circumstances or the situation, even when there’s bad news, even when there’s heartbreaking news. 

I don’t imagine that God is telling us to have a feeling of happiness. I know he’s not telling us to paste a plastic smile on our face (God is never for phoniness). Rather, God is telling us to take action. Rejoice, praise God, give thanks, worship God in song, cite a passage on God’s goodness and faithfulness, or express in prayer that God can be trusted: all of these are ways to rejoice.

If we obeyed this command, it would transform most of our lives. When you get criticized, rejoice. When your car breaks down, rejoice. When you experience physical pain, rejoice. When you lose your job, rejoice. No matter what happens, rejoice.

That’s what God says, isn’t it? Rejoice in the Lord always. It seems crazy. But behind this countercultural, counterintuitive command is the conviction that God is good, that He can be trusted, that He will have the final word, is still on his throne, and will redeem this problem. God is God. So do it: Rejoice in the Lord always.