Rejoice in the Lord

“But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.”

Psalm 5:11 [KJV]

Waitpinga Beach, SA

What makes you happy? Maybe a beautiful beach like the one in the photo above? I was in a shop recently that had a shelf of books on the subject of happiness. Each book there claimed that it knew the key to happiness: one said it was all in the mind, another that it was diet-related, another said it was largely genetic. I walked away empty-handed, but I found myself thinking, I’m not unhappy with my life, but couldn’t I be happier than I am? Couldn’t I smile and laugh more?

We all want happiness. We seek it in relationships, things, clothes, activities, coffee, chocolate, nature, pets and hobbies. But happiness can be affected by just about anything internal or external, including genetic dispositions, personality types, hormonal cycles, sleep, diet, and of course, circumstances. It is a fickle emotion. It can vanish with one small disappointment, one angry word, or one stupid driver ahead of us who is doing half the speed limit when we’re running late.

When we pursue personal happiness, we often lose sight of something more important and permanent: joy. In Philippians 4:4, we are commanded, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Joy is an enduring gladness of heart. But rejoicing always doesn’t come naturally to anybody–including myself. I’m more likely to be described as ‘sober-minded’ than ‘joyful’. Is it possible to know lasting joy when you are exhausted, struggling with depression, in pain, having issues at work, the baby won’t sleep, or you are worried over a family member? What if it’s been the worst year of your life (and the year hasn’t ended yet)?

How about when you are stuck in a Roman jail, facing execution? And yet the Apostle Paul wrote those challenging words from prison: “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” King David wrote, “But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee,” (Psalm 5:11). The verse sounds like a victory celebration, yet Psalm 5 is a desperate cry for God’s protection against “bloody and deceitful” men (v6). How could David and Paul rejoice in such circumstances, and how can we rejoice in our circumstances today?

While happiness is dependent on circumstances, Psalm 5:11 tells us that joy is God-centred. Joy can be experienced by “all those that put their trust in Thee,” (v11). As Christians, we can come boldly into the presence of God, through the work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:16). As Psalm 16:11b says, “in Thy presence is fulness of joy”. As we learn to abide in God’s presence, daily putting our trust in Him, the Holy Spirit works inside us to produce His fruit, one of which is joy (Galatians 5:22-23). While we can manufacture moments of happiness, lasting joy is a gift from God. Joy is not emotional ecstasy, but the quiet confidence that, no matter our circumstances, God exists, God is in control and God cares. Romans 15:13a says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing”. When we seek God and His glory, we find not just joy, but peace, hope, renewed faith and grace sufficient for our needs (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We also rejoice “because Thou defendeth them” (Psalm 5:11). Joy comes through faith in the character of God: “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9). Our circumstances might be heartbreaking and challenging, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

The Bible is a treasure chest of God’s promises: read them, memorise them, write them out and pray them. God speaks to us through His Word, giving each of us special promises we can claim for each situation. Over the years, God has encouraged me with promises of His abiding presence and faithfulness. When I was struggling with depression as a teenager, God gave me Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. When I almost died from an anaphylactic reaction in October 2022, He gave me Psalm 23:4a “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me”. God will never leave us. And there is joy in His presence, independent of circumstances. Our faith is in Jesus Christ, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

Learn to love the Lord’s name (Psalm 5:11). Several commentaries on this verse suggested that God’s name refers not just to His name Jehovah but represents God’s nature and holiness that He has revealed to us through His Word. When you get to know a person, one of things you learn about them is their name. God has many titles in the Bible, each one of them revealing an aspect of His character, such as Creator (Isaiah 40:28), Redeemer (Psalm 78:35), the Lord God Almighty (Revelation 11:17), and our Father (Matthew 6:9). Each of these names recorded in the Bible reveals an aspect of God to us, helping us learn to love Him more. It’s significant that the first listed fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 is love, because love for God produces joy. So, how much do we love God?

But the path to joy is often in the context of suffering, such as attacks from enemies (Psalm 5), persecution (Matthew 5:11-12), and drought (Habakkuk 3:17-18). God uses life’s trials and heartaches to draw us into His presence, to speak to us through His Word, and teach us to depend on Him. We find lasting joy in His presence that grows deeper and deeper as we learn to focus on God rather than our circumstances. I don’t like suffering. There have been times I’ve said, No, God, it’s too much, I’ve been through enough difficult things already. But when I’ve said no to God, I’ve missed out on His blessings, including joy and peace.

I want to live in the joy of God’s presence. I don’t want to miss out because of disobedience, or waste my life chasing elusive happiness. Are you seeking happiness that has never, and will never, satisfy you, or are you seeking God’s face? As we live and walk in the Spirit, God gives us joy that uplifts our hearts and perhaps even spills over into a smile or song. May Psalm 5:11 become a reality in our lives: “But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.”