Rejoice All the Time!

You may look at our title today and respond with some skepticism. How can anyone have joy all the time? I don’t mean to suggest that circumstances can’t be very difficult to work through, but the point we keep making is that joy is not subject to circumstances—that you can choose joy no matter what else is going on.

The entire book of Philippians seems to overflow with joy. When Paul wrote this letter, he did so from prison. That’s right, the man who’s saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” is sitting in jail! Paul had more reason than anyone to feel alone, uncomfortable, and unsure of his fate (which we know was eventually to be martyred for his faith). I’m sure Paul felt all of those things, but that doesn’t mean he gave up on joy.

It’s not as if this kind of thing was new to Paul. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 for a list of the kinds of things Paul could face on any given day. He talks about multiple imprisonments, getting beat with rods three times, receiving thirty-nine lashes (one short of the forty the law allowed) on five different occasions, being stoned, and then shipwrecked three times. Paul goes on to talk about the multiple dangers he faced in his life as an apostle. I don’t think any of us have had to endure anything close to what Paul did.

Yet, Paul says we can rejoice in the Lord always! Well, if he could, I think any of us can! Again, joy isn’t a feeling, it’s a choice, and no matter what he had to go through, Paul chose joy, and his whole message to the Philippians and to you and me is, that we can choose joy, too.

What about the time Paul and Silas were in prison (Acts 16:23-40)? That was Paul’s first rather unpleasant introduction to the Philippians. At midnight, Paul and Silas were in jail, so naturally they wept and wailed in despair—wait, no they didn’t! At midnight they sang and praised God so much, the power of God fell and shook the prison to its foundations. My friend, even prison walls can’t withstand the joy of the Lord!

It’s true—whatever prison of circumstances you may feel you’re in, God has given you His joy, and you really can experience it ALL the time!