“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
With the holidays approaching, it is much easier for me to be in a more festive mood, to seemingly “rejoice” always. I love the holidays. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now, come January, I’ll be struggling to rejoice.
So, just how is it that we can rejoice always? Through trials and struggles? Through the valley of the shadow of death?
Rejoice means to be glad or to take delight in. So, though I may not be happy, happy, joy, joy 24/7, I can still be glad and take delight in my Savior and the gifts He has given me.
It’s hard. For sure. But, if we read on, we see a little bit more about what Paul means. After verse 4, Paul says, “let your gentleness be evident to all, the Lord is near.” So, I just pose this question: how does gentleness go with rejoicing?
Remember, the Lord is near. Verse 6 says, “do not be anxious about anything…” and I think right there we have one of the keys to gentleness and thus rejoicing. If we are anxious, nervous, stressed, overwhelmed, we likely are not gentle. I know I am not!! When I am a stressed momma, those are the moments I am least gentle, unfortunately.
So, when I’m anxious, I need to go to Him. With everything. I have shared about this verse before. When we go to Him in prayer, in everything, His peace will transcend all understanding and will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
When I am anxious: pray.
When I am overwhelmed: pray.
When I am stressed: pray.
Prayer brings peace.
Peace brings gentleness.
Prayer & peace bring a reminder of the Lord’s nearness.
Now I can rejoice again.
Prayer leads to peace leads to rejoicing.
Pray. He will give peace. The Lord is near. Rejoice.
