Romans 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

I don’t know that I’ve ever underlined this verse before. The 10 verses that come ahead of it are so justly famous that this one just didn’t click. However, I now realize it contains a simple, yet powerful truth. The preceding verses speak of what God has done for us in Christ, which is of course of vital importance, but this verse points out that all of that is not just abstract, “positional” stuff, we can really get happy about it! God really does delight to delight His children, and if we fail to rejoice in what He has done for us, it’s disappointing to Him. Both Old and New Testaments tell us again and again to rejoice. That should be good news that’s fun to obey, but sometimes we stubbornly refuse! There is of course a mountain of negative stuff we could be depressed about at any given moment, but if our hearts are focused on what God has done for us in Christ, we’re going to be happy! This is not to say that we’re always to have a smile on our face, because that quickly becomes plastic hypocrisy. However, it is to say that if we aren’t rejoicing a majority of the time, our focus is on the wrong things.

It’s been a year and a half now since the Lord spoke to me and through me that we are to rest, relax, and rejoice. That’s good news, but I haven’t followed through 100%! There is no end to the bad news that is available to us, and the devil loves to use that to try to steal our joy. (It’s not that he gets it, he just wants to deprive us of it.) I must not cooperate with that! If my focus is on Christ, trusting Him to do in, for, and through me all that the Father has planned, then I’m going to be really happy, looking forward to what is going to happen next. I never really know what that’s going to be, but by faith I can be assured that it will ultimately be good, even if it’s difficult in the process. I often quote John 16:33. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Translation can be a tricky thing, but where the NIV says “take heart,” other translations say “rejoice,” or “be boldly confident.” As I preach to others, I must not forget to receive the Word myself!

Father, You’ve been working on me for some time now to get me to trust You regardless of what’s going on in the world. Thank You. My joy level is a pretty good indicator of how well I’m following through with that. Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, not simply for my own benefit but also so that others may know that it’s possible. I deal with very many people who have little or no real hope. Help me transmit hope to them through joy, not denigrating their problems but showing them that You are far greater than any problem, so that they may turn to You and receive all that You have for them, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!