Rejoice! What does it mean to rejoice? Websters dictionary describes the word rejoice as: “to feel or show great joy or delight”  Well that’s easy enough. When life is at it’s best. I sure rejoiced when my daughter past her finals. And you know I rejoiced when my son moved closer to home with those grandson’s of mine. It was easy to rejoice when my beautiful granddaughter was born. It was sure easy enough to rejoice when my promotion at work came along. Oh yeah baby! You bet I rejoiced when I lost that 10 lbs I had been working so hard to shed. And what about when the husband took me on that road trip he planned for our anniversary? That was the best. I was sure able to rejoice sitting on that beach in the sun. And,,,well,,,you get the picture. I sure know how to rejoice when life is at it’s best.

Now, let’s get to the whole matter of the subject. It is in the hard times that rejoicing has been the most challenging. I know one thing for sure, this time in isolation due to the CORONAVIRUS has been one of the hardest times I have experienced to find something to rejoice about. I don’t know about you, but I literally had to write my list of things to rejoice about to find some joy. I’m here to tell you, once I got started on that list, It just flowed! I was so in awe as I wrote these things down. Just think about it, healthy meals cooked at home was at the top of my list. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I had really gotten into some bad habits with fast food. It is so much easier to stop at my favorite Chik-fila and grab dinner. On my list I have added time with my husband, projects around the house accomplished, and on and on it goes.

Now I have to be honest here, I have completely missed being in the house of God on Sunday mornings. My church family is a huge part of my life and bring me great joy. The adjustment to online church has been hard. But just as God does, He allowed this time online to reach out to others we would never be able to minister to otherwise. This time has given me a great appreciation of living in America where we can attend church with others without fear of persecution and death. Today was our first day back to church it was filled with great rejoicing!

What about those who have lost loved ones during this time? How do they rejoice? And how about those who have lost their jobs, homes, material possessions? What do they have to rejoice about? Well, I have to honest and say I don’t have all of the answers. It is beyond my understanding why people hurt. What I do know is this,,,the Word of God is tried and true. God’s Word holds the answers and is the only place I can find peace to be able to rejoice. Psalm 9:14 says “That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughters of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation”. Psalm 68:3 says “But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice”. As I read the scriptures that King David sang in the Psalms, I can’t help but think about his many losses. He lost his freedom when he fled from a mad man that was supposed to be his king. He had to run for his life! David lost his child because of his own sin and deception. David’s own son turned against him because he wanted power. But in all of David’s loss, he remained faithful to the things of God. David cried out to God in Psalm 69:1 “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.” His only hope in this deep dark situation was God. David knew he couldn’t make it through and regain his joy without God.

May I encourage you today to begin to seek after God. If you can’t seem to find anything to rejoice about, I challenge you to begin to make a list of things each day that you are thankful for. Maybe start with the simple things in life that God has provided; food on your table, someone to love you, etc.. God sent his only son to die on a cross for you. You are beautiful to Jesus Christ. He gave his life to make away for you to live with him forever. He desires a relationship with you. Let Jesus come in today and begin to heal you. He will give you much more than you could ever dream of to rejoice in! Grab your Bible and start reading the Psalm. I pray today for God to begin to minister to your heart and may healing begin so your joy and rejoicing may be greater that ever before.

“This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be Glad in it!”