Signora Sheila

The Scriptures have much to say about joy and rejoicing. In fact, we who are God’s children should be the most joyful of all people! The words joy, rejoice, or joyful appear over 400 times in Scripture! We are told to sing and shout for joy. To be glad and exult in the Lord, and to rejoice all the time.

But in the midst of life’s difficulties, it can be difficult. So let’s take a look at Psalm 100 and see what it can teach us about the joy God wants to fill us with!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm 100:1-2

Rejoice all the time?

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Is it even possible or realistic to rejoice all the time? Should we just sit with our heads in the clouds or our noses in the Bible – thinking only good and holy thoughts? What about when disappointments come? Or bad things happen? It’s hard to find joy and gratitude then, isn’t it?

But Scripture doesn’t say to rejoice only when good things happen. Let’s remember that Paul wrote the words, “Rejoice in the Lord always,” from a Philippian prison. And numerous psalms about rejoicing were written in times of trial and trouble.

So how do we always rejoice? I think the answer lies in how we define joy. Dictionaries usually define joy as: an emotion or feeling of happiness or great delight, caused by some pleasure or something good. But by this logic we could only experience joy when something good happens. And conversely negative events would destroy our joy.

A fruit of the Spirit

But the Bible defines joy as a fruit of the Spirit. The moment we believe in Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us with His presence and fruit – including joy. The Greek word for joy, in fact, is chara, closely related to charis, which means gift or grace.

So joy is a gift, ours by God’s grace. One that doesn’t (or shouldn’t) disappear when bad things happen, because God’s gifts are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). But like all fruit, we must nurture and cultivate it.

True joy is connected to God and His grace. And this grace is the only thing that can enable us to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things.

True joy is based on God.

And that brings us back to Psalm 100. Known as the Psalm of thanksgiving, it provides great insight into how and why we can always be thankful and full of joy!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100:1-5

8 reasons to rejoice always, from Psalm 100:

We can rejoice always because…

1. We know God, vs 3.
2. We understand that He alone is God Eternal, vs 3.
3. We know that He is our Creator, vs 3.
4. We can trust Him as our shepherd, vs 3.
5. We have the privilege of entering His presence, vs 4.
6. He is good, vs 5.
7. His steadfast love endures forever, vs 5.
8. He is faithful to all generations, vs 5.

Basing our joy or happiness on circumstances or events is a sure way to fall into depression or despair. For things do not always go according to plan. Bad things do happen. Discouragement comes.

But real joy is based on who God is

It is a fruit of the Spirit that comes from His presence. So when you feel your joy slipping away, spend time in His presence. Think about God, who He is, and all He’s done for you. Remember that His love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations. And if that’s not enough to make you rejoice forever, then I don’t know what will!

Have you based your joy on circumstances, and wondered why it always seems to slip away? Then take Psalm 100 to heart! And let it help you cultivate true joy in Him!

True joy is not based on circumstances, but on who God is.

Signora Sheila

📷 Image credits: girl & balloon; sunflowers; hot air balloons