Rejoice always?!?
In an ongoing attempt to stay physically fit I have, yet again, taken up running. My goal would be to run a half marathon. For now, the goal is just to get out of the house and run a couple of miles. Recently, as I was running the track my mind became consumed with the number of laps I had ran and what I would do after I had run the allotted miles. With my mind fixated on all of those thoughts the run itself turned into a helpless cause. How did I get here when it started with a sense of vigor and excitement to run? Now I was bogged down and ready to be done.
Paul’s words to the church at Thessalonica, “Rejoice in all situations” has always been a puzzler for me. Rejoice in ALL situations?! Seriously, Paul?! Is this a phrase you felt compelled to write to motivate the church in the midst of trials? I mean, how can anyone rejoice in persecution or when life just stinks?
We either disregard this statement as being just that, a positive statement meant to motivate, or the phrase is taken to the extreme and out of context to produce a shallow joy for everything.
Do we rejoice that all of life falls apart and I am left with nothing? Paul never equated the moment with rejoicing. In other words, we don’t rejoice because of an event. We also don’t have to erase or ignore the pain and suffering for the sake of doing what Paul says.
Every moment we have, every event experienced, and every relationship we encounter has an effect on us, demanding our focus. The mind is a beautiful work of engineering. When we fixate on any sort of moment or event it will be shaped by that moment. As I ran, I fixated on the future possibilities and neglected to live in the moment that I was in, thus causing anxiety. Yet, when I refocused and allowed myself to dwell in the moment, the run became enjoyable.
When we experience suffering, we know that it is not the end of us. If we pull back 10000 feet to get a fuller perspective, we see that we are able to move through the event. To fixate on suffering is to give control over your whole self. To rejoice in all situations is to make room in your peripheral for Jesus. One of the most given commands Paul says to the Church was to “fix your eyes on Christ.” When we focus on Christ all of the other distractions or worries fall from our attention.
Keep in mind to focus on Christ and allow the distractions or sufferings to fall from attention is NOT to ignore or try to “fake it through.” It means you are opening yourself to allow God’s Spirit to bring clarity, wisdom, and peace. God will bring you through whatever situation you find yourself. When it feels like you are buried in a whole lot of “bad,” turning your eyes to Jesus is to recognize the cracks in the boulders that offer a little light and a way out.
What matters the most is that we have been brought into God’s family. We have been redeemed and made right. Humanity at its finest and as intended. The Spirit even dwells in us to affirm that reality. If you stop and think about that truth, it is worth rejoicing. But to rejoice doesn’t ignore the moment - it brings us back to balance and reminds us that Christ is with us. Where or what we fixate on is what will shape our perspective. To rejoice always is to lay the foundation of your life on the reality of life with Jesus. We can ‘Rejoice Always’ because Christ is with us. We have something to rejoice about in all situations, no matter the situations, Christ is with and for us. May we focus more on Jesus each day and allow the Kingdom reality to be our cause of rejoicing!
