“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
What does it mean to rejoice always? Is it even possible to rejoice always?
Life has a way of knocking you down at the knees. One minute you are standing strong and the next minute your foundation is shaking.
Why does your foundation shake? Our foundations shake because we place our hope in the wrong foundations. We place our hope in our finances, jobs, families, government, health, and career goals. These things are not bad pursuits, however, they make a terrible god. When we realize that we have been worshipping created things instead of the Creator frustration will settle in. This frustration can manifest itself through complaining, worrying, comparing yourself to others, and being ungrateful.
A foundation on the things of this world will lead to a frustration with the things of this world.
Only a foundation in Jesus Christ will stand through every phase and season of your life. Jesus is unchanging and unwavering. He is strong enough for you to build your life on.
Paul’s instructions are to “rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything.” The Christians in Thessalonica had little reason to rejoice. Following Jesus brought persecution, rejection, and relational tension. By human standards, there was nothing to bring joy.
Why were these Christians joyful and how what would they rejoice in? They realized that rejoicing has nothing to do with your outward circumstances and everything to do with your inward hope. Their inward hope wasn’t fixed on created items but on Jesus, the Creator of their lives. This allowed them to rejoice, even while experiencing persecution. Life is good, not because of the good things happening, but because God showed up in the form of Jesus.
Live It:
- What have you placed your hope in?
- What can you give God thanks for today?
- What do you need to rejoice about?
- What do you need to pray for?
Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
