"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it over again: Rejoice!" - Philippians iv:4

When yous think of the discussion "rejoice," what practise y'all typically think of? You might call up of rejoicing as being in a country of abiding happiness and jubilant every detail of your life with unending exuberance.

What about when you run into the Scripture that says "rejoice in the Lord always"? Does that have the aforementioned sentiment as the mentioned state of happiness above?

Philippians 4:4 has the campaigner Paul telling the church of Philippi, in a letter, to e'er rejoice in the Lord, always celebrate the Lord. This carries the understanding that you do it whether you want to or non, whether you are happy with the Lord or not. When you celebrate with the right thought in listen about how God works, it will exist possible to observe ways to rejoice in the Lord.

Permit us examine the following passages in Philippians four to run into why this advice from Paul is so profound and how nosotros tin agree to this conventionalities of God'southward greatness at all times, finding the joy inside building up as we give Him thanks.

What Is the Context of Philippians 4?

The book of Philippians is the apostle Paul'due south letter to the church of Philippi to share with them wisdom and encouragement for living out their organized religion in Christ and continuing strong when struggles and persecution might occur.

Remember that when it came to suffering for your calling, Paul was definitely the skillful. He endured severe persecution for his belief in Christ and call to ministry, so advice from him on rejoicing during trials seems to be a expert idea.

Philippians 4 centers mostly on Paul conveying to the believers what to focus on during times of uncertainty. He wants them to also know that as they become through challenges, they will exist able to practice more because Christ is in them (Phil. 4:13).

The fourth chapter of Philippians also encourages people to not exist anxious for anything, only to give their needs in prayer to God (Phil. four:6) and gain God'due south peace in render (Phil. 4:7).

Paul likewise shared in Philippians 4:xi-12 how he has learned to exist content where he is because he knows what it is like to exist hungry and full, to suffer and to abound.

However, with Philippians four:four, Paul only declares that nosotros "rejoice in the Lord, always. Once more I will say, rejoice!" What Paul is maxim here is that we should rejoice at all times, whether we are sad, happy, angry, confused, or even tired: there shouldn't be a moment that goes by that nosotros aren't giving thanks to the Lord for His honey and provision.

joyful mom and daughter singing praise songs with headphones on

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Lordn

What Does It Mean to "Rejoice in the Lord Always"?

Rejoice, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary, is "to requite you" or "to feel joy or keen delight," while to rejoice in ways to "have or possess."

So, the Scripture conveys that to rejoice in the Lord is to take joy or delight in the Lord; to feel joy when you think of Him always.

How practise you practise that, you might enquire? Well, think of God equally you would someone you tin run into in front end of you lot, whether a family unit member, friend, co-worker, or someone from your church or customs. When y'all spend time with someone that brings you joy and happiness, you rejoice or please in existence with him or her. You celebrate information technology.

Although you can't see God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, yous come to know that they are there with you, every bit close as anyone can be to you lot. You feel their presence when you experience at-home in the midst of anarchy, happiness or positivity in the midst of sadness, and conviction in the midst of dubiety. You are rejoicing in knowing that God is there with you lot, strengthening you when yous are weak and encouraging yous when y'all feel similar giving up.

What if You Don't Experience Like Rejoicing in the Lord?

Especially in our nowadays status of life, it tin can exist hard to rejoice in the Lord when at that place is hurting, struggle, and sadness all around us. However, it is possible to love on the Lord, to rejoice always, fifty-fifty when you lot don't feel similar it or are grappling with as well much pain to call up of God.

Philippians 4:4 is followed by the well-known verses shared in Philippians 4:six-7, where information technology talks about non beingness anxious and giving your requests to the Lord with thanksgiving in your eye. Poetry 7 follows this with: "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will baby-sit your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

What these verses state is that when we rejoice in the Lord, nosotros brainstorm to feel peace in our situations, peace in our hearts and minds, because we understand that God has our prayer requests well in hand and brings u.s.a. peace until those requests are answered.

Even when yous have been waiting a long time for a prayer request to happen or a situation to change, you lot can rejoice and be thankful for the Lord in the meantime because y'all know your prayer request has reached the ears of God and will be answered soon.

One style to rejoice when you don't feel similar it is to think dorsum on the times that you were waiting on other prayer requests or were in similar situations of distress, and how God provided when it didn't await like anything would modify. When yous remember what occurred and how appreciative you were to God, this feeling should fill you lot with joy and tell you that God tin can do this again and over again. He is a God who loves and cares for you.

And so, Philippians four:half dozen-seven tells u.s.a. not to be broken-hearted, equally the world would have us be, but hopeful, thankful, and at peace in knowing your prayer requests will be taken care of. The world may be anxious in its lack of command, just you don't accept to be because you lot know who is in control.


Photo credit: Unsplash/Nghia-Le

A Prayer to Rejoice in the Lord

As we close, let's follow what is expressed in Philippians 4 and rejoice in the Lord always, as nosotros give Him our prayer requests and await His peace in return.

Lord God,

Thanks for loving us and caring for our needs equally Yous do. For You know the program ahead for the states and know how to guide our steps to be in line with that plan. It's not always easy to rejoice and remain hopeful in You lot when problems and circumstances arise, but we have to think back on the times nosotros have been in similar positions and call back how You blessed usa more than we idea possible. From big to lilliputian, we tin can count the blessings that You gave united states of america before and discover they are more numerous than we e'er thought possible. That is considering Y'all know our needs before we ask them, You lot know our heartaches before we take them, and You know what will abound u.s.a. the most to be all we can be in Your eyes. So, let us rejoice and be glad every bit we give You our prayers, knowing when we least expect it, Y'all will bring them into fruition. We give all of this to Yous in Jesus's name.

Amen.

God Will Provide

Rejoicing in all situations, especially nowadays, tin be hard to do, if not impossible, at times. However, God has called us to rejoice in Him always, knowing that we are loved and cared for by an eternal God.

The apostle Paul knew well the suffering that we can suffer in our day, having experienced several bouts of it throughout his ministry. But he reminds the states in this chapter that we need to always exist looking to God for hope and encouragement. God will provide for our needs when no one else can.

As we bypass feelings of anticipation of rejoicing when nosotros are going through difficult situations, hopefully we volition allow those feelings be replaced by feelings of peace and confidence that the God who began a good work in us will fulfill it in His children.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/torwai

Blair Parke  is a freelance writer for BibleStudyTools.com, and previously worked for eight years with Xulon Press. A graduate of Stetson University with a Bachelor'southward in Communications, Blair previously worked as a author/editor for several local magazines in the Central Florida area, including Celebration Contained and Lake Magazine in Leesburg, Florida and currently freelances for the Southwest Orlando Bulletin.

This article is office of our larger resource library of pop Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide piece of cake to read articles that answer your questions almost the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture'southward context. Information technology is our hope that these will help you better empathize the significant and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.

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