Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! (Psalm 32:11)
Good Day Family,
Rejoice!
Scripture is full of commands to rejoice – in good times and in hard times, when we feel the blessing or are waiting God’s decision, when our hearts are glad or our souls are in despair. We need only turn to the Psalms to see how much God wants us to rejoice. Through psalm after psalm, we are instructed to rejoice in God. There are multiple ways of expressing our joy that we are encouraged to undertake: singing and dancing, praising and giving thanks, playing instruments and even being still in the presence of God. All of our lives should be a testimony of the goodness of God.
This does not mean that life is easy or lacks challenges. The primary Psalmist, King David, lived a life of war, tension, and conflict. His life was often under siege, many of the passages reflect a warrior weary of battle and beset by enemies. In the midst of that, he found joy. Other psalms reflect his deep repentance for the ways in which he fell short of the glory of God. He cries out in despair in times of grief, confusion, and depression. Yet, even when he begins in lament, he transitions to praise and gratitude.
Rejoicing is a choice. It is a function of attitude. It is a declaration that even though things aren’t as we want them to be, we are grateful for what we’ve been given. It’s a testimony that we connect with a God who provides, restores, and even reassures. We are not a people without hope even in the midst of a pandemic.
Let us make the choice to find the joy in the morning. To be grateful for a new day. To appreciate what we have and what we’ve gain rather than fixate on what we’ve lost. Let us cultivate that attitude of gratitude and rejoice in God!
Be well,
Pastor Cheryl