Freely Speaking with Sarah

Joy is often used as a synonym for happiness. These aren’t interchangeable. Happiness is dependent on circumstances. I’m happy when somebody brings me an iced coffee. Joy is a disposition of the heart. As I write this, I have a child struggling with medical needs. I can still have joy, even as this challenges my happiness.

How do we find this joy of the heart?

Scripture tells us, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NASB). Paul wrote this text in a letter to the church at Philippi. They were a community of new believers, and during everything Paul went through as an apostle for the Lord, he still gave these words to them.

I’m a homeschool mom, so I feel the need to tell you a little more about this sentence structure. This is what’s called an imperative sentence.  This means there is no subject; the subject is an implied YOU. Take a moment to read that again, with your name at the beginning, “Sarah, rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice!”.

It brings on a different meaning. Paul was telling the church then and us now to always rejoice. Our outward circumstances may not bring us happiness. Paul knew this! After all, he wrote this letter from prison. By Paul’s example, we see that our inward disposition can still be one of rejoicing.

When your son is sick, rejoice. When parts break on a tractor, rejoice. When there’s no more coffee in the house, rejoice. When death is near for a loved one, rejoice.

In the Old Testament, it was common during the years of wandering or of the Lord leading people to new places that they would often stop and build an altar to the Lord. They would give up a moment of their time to worship Him.

Today I ask you to do that, give up a moment, wherever you are, and worship Him. Glorify Him, even when your outward circumstances tell you otherwise.