Rejoicing In God

I believe the general consensus today would be that “it’s easier to rejoice in the Lord when things are going well, than when they are going bad.” It can be tough to rejoice when you’re going through and you don’t understand why. Why is God allowing people do mean things to you and not do anything about it. Why is God allowing me to go through a season of drought? Would it help, if I told you sometimes God will allow wicked people to be punished by people more wicked than them? I just made things more confusing. However, even though God will allow this to happen, no one will get away with anything. This can prove to be some tough circumstances to endure.

However, these are the circumstances the prophet Habakkuk is dealing with as he awaits destruction at the hands of the Babylonians and he questions how long will this go on. He wonders how God is going to punish the wicked by the hands of the wicked. He didn’t understand God’s way of thinking or His plan. But he chose to simply trust God. He decided to let God handle God’s business and just simply rejoice in the Lord.

I think that ought to be the resolution to our circumstances. I’m going to rejoice in the Lord, despite my circumstances.

Let me give two reasons to keep rejoicing in God.

Joy Is Not Determined By Material Circumstances

Your joy should not be determined by your material circumstances.

Habakkuk says in verse 17......... He speaks of material disasters of crops and livestock which puts them in a position where they don’t or won’t have food to eat.

No fruit and grain

No oil

No meat

Sometime you may find yourself at a material deficit.

You don’t have the money to take care of you business.

This leads to no money shelter

No money for food

No money for clothing

No money for medicine

In 1942, when London was being blitzed, an article appeared in one of the British newspapers, which was widely quoted on this side of the Atlantic. It may not be out of place to republish this searching statement:

In 1942, when London was being blitzed, an article appeared in one of the British newspapers, which was widely quoted on this side of the Atlantic. It may not be out of place to republish this searching statement:

“We have been a pleasure-loving people, dishonoring God’s day, picnicking and bathing—now the seashore is barred; no picnics, no bathing.

“We have preferred motor travel to church-going—now there is a shortage of motor fuel.

“We have ignored the ringing of church bells calling us to worship—now the bells cannot ring except to warn us of invasion.

Can you rejoice when you’re experiencing hardship?

“We have left our churches half-empty when they should have been well filled with worshippers—now they are in ruins.

“We would not listen to the way of peace—now we are forced to listen to the way of war.

“The money we would not give to the Lord’s work now is taken from us in higher taxes and high cost of living.

“The food for which we refused to give God thanks—now is unobtainable.

“The service we refused to give God is now conscribed for our country.

“Lives we refused to live under God’s control—now are under the nation’s control.

“Nights we would not spend watching unto prayer—now are spent in anxious air raid precautions.”

—Christian Bus. Men’s League

Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc., 1996), 1012–1013.

Can you rejoice when you’re experiencing hardship?

Joy Is The Confidence That God Is Able To Help You Rise Above Your Circumstances

God will be your strength.

God will make you mentally and physically strong in your time of weakness.

He will make you quick and swift on your feet.

He will help you rise above your situation.

He will place your feet on higher ground.

So rejoice in the Lord the Lord! The God of your salvation.

Salvation is a means of preserving from harm and unpleasantness.

God can keep you from physical harm and unpleasantness.

Has He done it for you before?

Real joy is loud. It involves singing and dancing.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2814 Joy: Beneficial in Every Way

Scientists have been studying the effect of laughter on human beings and have found, among other things, that laughter has a profound and instantaneous effect on virtually every important organ in the human body. Laughter reduces health-sapping tensions and relaxes the tissues as well as exercising the most vital organs. It is said that laughter, even when forced, results in beneficial effect on us, both mentally and physically. Next time you feel nervous and jittery, indulge in a good laugh.