Rejoice?

2-12-97
Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  I Thess. 5:18
Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:2-4

A question arose the other day during a Bible study on Php 4, "How does one rejoice in the midst of difficult life circumstances?"  Someone responded with a story she heard about a man who had lost his wife and children in a car accident.  He said, "I don't praise God that I lost my family.  I praise God for who He is."  A wonderful discussion followed.  How do we praise God when the hard things come.

Paul continued, "Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:5-9

He included the secret for rejoicing, for contentment, for how to think, pray, and act in all circumstances.  In "Experiencing God," Henry Blackaby says that looking through our circumstances distorts our view of God. Rather, we should draw near to God and gain His perspective on our circumstances.  Paul includes three beautiful promises that give us our focus in the hard times.  1) The Lord is near.  2) The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  3) The God of peace will be with you.  Two of these promises tell us that God is with us, Emmanuel, Christ Jesus. This reminds us that we come to God, looking to Him, regardless of circumstances. We need to take comfort in the nearness and protection of God.  Then we need to take all our circumstances and anxieties to God with earnest, deep prayer.  And we need to thank God.  Not necessarily for the circumstances - that may be too difficult. But we can thank God for all He has done through history, for the ways He has revealed Himself, His purposes, and His ways to us; for Christ, our Sacrifice, our Life; for all He has done for each of us, all His provisions, all His help, His protection, His peace, His comfort, ...  We have much to thank God for if we will look to Him rather than the distractions at hand.  God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus with His peace - the peace He left with the disciples (John 14:27). Then we need to think about God, for only in Him and His Word do we find things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.  "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18