Rejoice. 1st Thessalonians 5:16 Regardless of circumstances, a Christian always has reasons to rejoice. We rejoice in the Lord Himself, His incarnation, power, sacrifice on the cross, resurrection advocacy, and His presence with us. We rejoice because He saved us, gave us eternal life, freedom in Christ, the promise of His return, and hope for the glory of God. We rejoice when the Gospel is preached, sinners are saved, grace is seen in new believers and their godly walk, and when we meet together as an assembly.
We rejoice when we are consciously aware of God and know His sovereign will is being fulfilled. Even during difficult times, suffering, persecution, and opposition, we can still find joy—even when we're not feeling happy—because we understand, “Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff comfort me.” Joy is rooted in our hearts and inner selves and springs from God, even in the toughest moments.
Joy originates from our Lord and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, but we are also responsible for nurturing our relationship with God. Recognizing God's presence in every part of our lives means fellowship with Him. When we share our lives in communion with our Lord, we won't substitute material, personal, and temporary pleasures for holy joy. Those who rise above life's trials, hardships, and adverse circumstances will find joy because they choose joy.
Perhaps the best way to influence, lead, or help others is to have a joyful heart. Joy is a powerful and contagious positive force. Our joy as believers stems from many reasons. Expressing joy in being alive, knowing God, and experiencing His grace is one way to share joy with others. Joy can be found in the arrival of the Lord's Day, in singing hymns, and in seeing our Christian brothers and sisters bless us and others. It is also found in hearing the Gospel preached and in hearing the Lord Jesus well-spoken of, which declares the Source of our joy. Joy during sickness, because we know the Lord is with us; joy in the shadow of death, showing the reality of our faith in Him. Sometimes, we may not feel inclined to be joyful, but joy results from our choices, not our circumstances. Christian joy is different from our natural human reactions; it originates in God: "The joy of the Lord is our strength."