About a week ago, I went to a birthday celebration lunch for Pastor Laura. There were five of us in a “girlie” café. We laughed and laughed and laughed some more. I have been thinking of the joy that flowed around that table ever since.
Anyone looking at us at that table would have thought we did not have a care in this world, yet all of us were dealing with things, aging, illness, loss. But whatever we were facing was overridden by the joy of knowing deep in our souls that we are loved by our LORD.
Rejoicing does not happen in our lives ONLY when we are carefree. When we know the love of Jesus, joy and rejoicing are abundant no matter the circumstances around us.
Paul wrote to the Philippians “Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.” [2:16-18 NLT]
“I will rejoice even if I lose my life ….”
It is not the circumstances OUTSIDE; it is the Joy of the Lord INSIDE our hearts that determines our rejoicing!
