"Rejoice in the LORD always."
- Phil. 4:4-7
I have a friend who says, "Don't worry, by happy" Oh sure!
Well intended, but for many persons I know, including myself,
impossible advice. At first glance, Paul might be accused of dispensing
similar advice from the first century: "Do no worry about anything..."
It is an interesting imperative from a person who is sitting in prison,
waiting to do on trial. How can someone who suffered as much hardship
as Paul be such a Pollyanna? How can we slap on a silly, smiley face
while the world, perhaps our own lives, seems to be in such. . .
"Rejoice in the LORD always."
- Phil. 4:4-7
I have a friend who says, "Don't worry, by happy" Oh sure!
Well intended, but for many persons I know, including myself, impossible advice. At first glance, Paul might be accused of dispensing similar advice from the first century: "Do no worry about anything..."
It is an interesting imperative from a person who is sitting in prison, waiting to do on trial. How can someone who suffered as much hardship as Paul be such a Pollyanna? How can we slap on a silly, smiley face while the world, perhaps our own lives, seems to be in such trouble?
Well Paul was no Pollyanna and his "do not worry" sentence brings a proper perspective and a suitable hope in v. 6. Paul's sentence doe not promise a blissful happiness. Nor does it guarantee simple, satisfying answers to our requests. But though prayer, supplication, thanksgiving, we acknowledge the One greater than we, who is always appropriately addressed and worthy of being thanked and praised.
We are to rejoice, not in some happiness that comes from a good attitude, but in the LORD. Our joy is the gift we receive when we realize whom we are to trust.
"Oh let us rejoice in the LORD, evermore
When darts of the tempter are flying,
For Satan still dreads, as he oft did before,
Our singing much more than our sighing."
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY- Let us sing even when we do not feel like it, for thus we may give wings to leaden feet and turn weariness into strength.