“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Philippians 4:4

These past few weeks have been met with tragedy upon tragedy in our lives, yet as much as my heart hurts, my soul rejoices. And for some reason that just seems so wrong. How can I possibly rejoice when lives have been shattered and such great pain has been imposed upon our hearts?

I rejoice because I know where my help comes from and that my helper, Jesus Christ, is grieving too. He doesn’t cause bad things to happen, but He’s always there to weep with us and be with us. He is our greatest advocate, our most compassionate comforter, our immovable rock, and an unshakable Presence. And that gives me reason to rejoice.

Rejoicing isn’t the absence of sorrow or grief or doubt or confusion. Heck it’s not even the absence of healthy anger. But it is the lifeline to endurance. It is the strength to persevere. And it is the Hope that even though our lives may have changed, God’s promises never do.

How do you rejoice when your heart hurts so bad? You raise up your hands and say God, I need you. You pull up a chair and say Lord, come sit with me please. And yes, you cry. You pray. You journal. You talk about it. You sing through it. You scream at God all you want – He can take it, really. But just inviting Him to be a part of your grief is rejoicing in itself. It brings a peace and comfort that passes all understanding because even when the darkness is gripping your heart, God’s Presence is enlightening your soul.

And folks, if you aren’t in the midst of grief yourselves, rejoice still! Rejoice by extending grace even if you don’t think it’s deserved. Rejoice by being kind even when you feel you’ve been offended. Rejoice by opening your arms to love even if you don’t feel like it. And rejoice by always being ready to give a reason for the hope and the joy that you have. Rejoice because you know that when your time of grief comes, your help too will come from the Lord and God’s people who surround you.

Not one of us are exempt from pain and suffering. But all of us reap the benefits of God’s grace, God’s presence, and God’s love. And that my friend is a reason to rejoice!

#SaturdaySoulSearch