Introduction: The Pursuit of Happiness
There is a deep longing in every human heart to be happy. We chase it in our careers, in our relationships, in our possessions, and in our experiences. We think, "If I could just get that promotion... if I could just find the right person... if I could just get my health back... then I would be happy."
But we've all discovered that this kind of happiness is fragile. It's like a thermometer—it simply reflects the conditions around it. When things are good, our happiness rises. When things are bad, it plummets. It is completely dependent on our circumstances.
But what if I told you that God offers something better than happiness? What if He offers a joy that is not a thermometer, but a thermostat? A joy that doesn't just react to the atmosphere of your life, but sets it. A joy that can thrive even when your world is falling apart.
This is the joy the Apostle Paul writes about. And the setting for his instruction is shocking. He's not writing from a beautiful seaside resort. He's not on vacation. Paul is in a Roman prison, chained to a guard, facing a potential death sentence. And from that dark, desperate place, he pens one of the most famous commands in all of scripture: "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." This is not the advice of a man who has it easy. This is the secret of a man who has found a source of joy that no prison cell could contain and no executioner could extinguish.
I: A Radical Command, Not a Gentle Suggestion
First, we must understand that Paul's words are not a gentle suggestion. The word "Rejoice" is in the imperative mood—it is a command. It's a call to action. This is radical because it means that joy is not primarily a feeling we wait for, but a choice we make.
Think about it. You cannot command a feeling. You can't command someone to feel hungry or to feel tired. But you can command an action. Paul is telling us to actively, deliberately, and intentionally set our minds on joy.
He is so convinced of this that he repeats himself for emphasis: "...and again I say, Rejoice!" He wants to make sure we don't miss it. This isn't just a nice opening to his letter; it is the central theme. In a world full of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, the believer's defining characteristic is to be a posture of resolute joy. This is our spiritual duty and our holy privilege.
But how? How can we possibly choose joy when we get a bad diagnosis from the doctor? How can we rejoice when we lose a job or grieve the loss of a loved one? The command seems impossible, until Paul gives us the key in two small but powerful words.
II. The Unfailing Source—"In the Lord"
The secret to this unshakable joy is found right here: "in the Lord."
Paul is not commanding us to rejoice in our circumstances. He's not telling us to rejoice in our government, our health, or our bank account. All of those things will fail us. They are shifting sand. Instead, he commands us to rejoice in a source that never fails, never changes, and can never be taken away: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our joy is not rooted in what is happening around us, but in Who is living inside us. We can rejoice always because:
1. We rejoice in His Person: Our God is sovereign. He is in control. Nothing happens outside of His knowledge and His loving plan. He is good, He is faithful, and He is for us.
2. We rejoice in His Provision: Our greatest problem—sin—has been solved. We have been forgiven and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. We have been adopted as sons and daughters of God. Our salvation is secure! That fact alone is reason enough to rejoice every moment of every day.
3. We rejoice in His Promises: He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He has promised to work all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He has promised us an eternal home with Him, where there will be no more sorrow or tears.
When your joy is anchored "in the Lord," life's storms can batter you, but they cannot break you. The circumstances may change, but the source of your joy remains constant.
III. The Daily Practice—How to Obey the Command
So, how do we practically live this out "always"? Paul doesn't leave us with a command without giving us the instructions. The very next verses tell us how.
In verse 6, he writes: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
This is the divine exchange. We are to take our anxieties, our fears, and our worries, and in an act of faith, hand them over to God through prayer. Notice the secret ingredient: "with thanksgiving."
Thankfulness is the sworn enemy of anxiety and the fertile ground for joy. You cannot be genuinely thanking God and be consumed with worry at the same time. When you begin to thank God for who He is and what He has done, your perspective shifts. You stop looking at the size of your storm and start looking at the size of your God.
When you do this—when you trade your anxiety for prayer with thanksgiving—Paul promises a result in verse 7: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
The practice of rejoicing always is the practice of praying about everything with a thankful heart. When you do that, a supernatural peace stands guard over your heart, protecting that unshakable joy that is found only in the Lord.
Conclusion
Friends, where have you been looking for your joy? Is it in the fragile, fleeting happiness of this world? Or is it in the firm, unshakable foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Today, you are being given a command, an invitation to a different way of life. A life where your gladness isn't determined by your circumstances, but by your constant connection to your Creator.
Choose today to obey the command. Take your fears to God in prayer. Drench those prayers in thanksgiving. Anchor your heart "in the Lord." And you will discover a joy that the world cannot give and, more importantly, a joy that the world cannot take away.
Again I say, Rejoice! Amen.
