Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ~ Philippians 4:4
While we get ready for another splendid Thanksgiving season I reflect on what I am thankful for and realize that I have no words for what I am feeling. We have had a challenging, but very blessed year. Prayer and a thankful heart has carried me personally through some painful hurts. People have rejected me because of my faith, people have hurt my son, my husband's heart has been wretched out of his chest, and yet through all of it, I know the Lord has us in His hands and will rejoice. Praising God through the trials and troubles have strengthened me and sufficiently sustained me with an undeniable peace. There are a handful of verses that I have committed to memory to recite to myself every time I drive to work and Philippians 4:4 is one of them. Whether it's a good day, or a day where I am already struggling and I have to force myself to recite this verse, I do. You know why? Because even on those days when I have to force myself to say it, my attitude and sometimes even my day, turns around. Putting your lips together and rejoicing even when your heart is isolated and hurting has a powerful effect; trust me, try it. There have been times when I have been barley able to utter the word "rejoice" when all of the sudden the spirit takes over my heart and gives me a hope and a swelling of cleansing tears may run down my cheeks, but I am suddenly in perfect peace. For the Lord is faithful and you can find joy and hope even in your beaten down heart when you cry out to God and rejoice. But above all, I remember the battles are His and so I can find joy and hope in all the great and even the twisted circumstances that I don't understand if I will only trust in Him. Joy can be mine everyday -- joyful that God loves me, joyful that He is fighting for me; joyful that my son may have been physically hurt, but his spiritual walk is still in growing; joyful that my husband's heart is healing; joyful that even though I was wrongly accused, I know who makes all things right and who I am in Christ; joyful for my identity; joyful for what Jesus did for me on the cross. I once heard our pastor say that happiness is circumstantial, but joyfulness can be permanent. That is so true. I pray that no matter what my bank account says and no matter what my circumstances might me, and no matter what others say about me, I pray I have the joy of the Lord ALWAYS! ~ Amen
