Rejoice

 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

– Isaiah 12:3

Inflation is on the rise, the nation is divided politically, and the average price of gasoline is approaching $4.00 per gallon. And if you ask the average man or woman on the street, there’s not much these days to feel happy or joyous about. But let’s put things into perspective. The fact is that billions around the world would do just about anything to trade places with us. That’s because even the poorest of the poor in the United States are considered rich (at least statistically) when compared with the rest of humanity.

But regardless of our bank accounts and the extent of our possessions, there are some things that money can’t buy, and joy is one of them. It’s that internal source of gladness and thanksgiving that helps us see clearly through the distortions of even the most difficult of circumstances. And as Christ-followers, our relationship with Jesus grants us access to our Creator — a loving Father who hears our prayers and looks for ways to bless us. So, no matter how dire the headlines, we already know that the story will end on a very positive note. The experiences of the apostle Paul richly illustrate this biblical principle: 

“Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,” he wrote in 2 Corinthians. “I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.”

That doesn’t sound like a fun-filled existence. Yet Paul wrote that he was joyful.

With so much negativity in the world today, what’s the secret for achieving a joy-filled, Christ-centered life? The Bible tells us to blend thanksgiving for our blessings and authentic, regular prayer with discernment — those ongoing intentional functions of living, thinking, and acting positively. Christ-followers should therefore make it a habit to look for the good and dwell on the positive.

When we have lives that are filled with joy, even the most unpleasant of circumstances can’t bring us down. Paul spent years in prison chained to his guards while under the constant threat of death. But he always prayed thankfully and joyously. And instead of feeling sorry for himself, he used his situation to change the lives of fellow prisoners and jailers alike — and all while writing much of what we today know as the New Testament. 

Yes, times are tough these days and the news is bleak. But Paul’s advice to today’s weary Christ-followers is all the more simple and profound:

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”