Rejoice… Even on a day like today!

Psalm 118 has had lots of attention from authors and scholars far more learned than I am, and even this one small verse has been the subject of great discussion. It’s a great subject for anyone to explore, but we just have one simple point to make here. Yes, the psalm looks forward prophetically and wonderfully to the day of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and there are other ways to think about the “day” mentioned here, but I’m a simple fellow, and I don’t see anything here that means I can’t rejoice in the Lord today!

Let’s face it, some days there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot to rejoice about if we’re just looking at the circumstances around us. Yet every day is a precious gift from God and every day is a new opportunity to know Him more. On a day like today we can find Him faithful in the most painful of trials, and experience the joy that can only come from discovering Him—yet again—right there in the midst of even the most difficult day you might ever experience.

Even on a day like today, God still answers prayer. And by no means am I just talking about prayers for your own needs. If you’ve ever prayed for healing for someone, or asked God to provide for a person you knew to be in great need, or called on God to intervene for someone experiencing a relationship crisis, then you know the indescribable joy you feel when God answers that prayer and moves in their lives. There’s no feeling like that, and you can experience it today!

Of course, you may well be the one facing great need today, physically, financially, emotionally, or relationally—any area of your life can be the focus of great distress, and that can happen on days when you simply don’t see it coming. How many times have you asked how something could happen “today of all days?” Yet, even this day is a day God made for you.

I know some days bring great sadness, and they can bring grief so wretched it can feel impossible to bear. But God isn’t going anywhere, and if you’ll reach out to Him, even today, I promise you’ll find Him. God’s arms of love are extended towards you, and when you let His embrace surround you, you’ll find the joy that will get you to tomorrow… Even on a day like today.