Woman to Woman: Rejoice & Be Glad

“This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
(Psalm 118:24, NASB)

It’s a well known, and oft quoted verse. There have even been songs composed of this verse.

If we are honest, it is easy to rejoice on the good days than on the more challenging days (aka, bad days). Yet this verse doesn’t seem to give us the choice of which days we will rejoice.

It almost comes across as a command. Or perhaps we need to discipline ourselves to do so if we hope to accomplish this.

Paul wrote the Book of Philippians while sitting in a jail cell awaiting trial. He had no idea what the outcome would be or even if his trial would be a fair one. The one sure thing he could count on was if the outcome went against him, he would be executed.

And yet he writes these words as he is waiting for trial:

“But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,
I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
You too, I urge you,
rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”
(Philippians 2:17-18, NASB)

It is as if Paul is saying , “Rejoice and share joy with one another.”

There is no doubt the daily news can be difficult to read. But what if, we were to look beyond the latest headline? What if we were to begin looking for something beautiful and delightful?

One early morning while on vacation, I sat on the steps with one of our granddaughters. She leaned over to pick up rocks one at a time. Carefully turning it over as it it were delicate, she studied the rock to decide if she should add it to her “collection”.

She would have taken every single rock home if permitted. She found beauty and delight in each one. And they all were simply rocks.

Rocks which brought great joy.

Maybe that is what Paul was conveying to the Philippians, and to us today.

We need to stop believing all the headlines for we know the world is in a mess. We need to start seeing the beauty God places in front of us right where we are. Each day we can choose to scour our day and see what God is doing in some small corner of our day.

This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice in it,
and be glad in it.