Rejoice Always
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Tuesday, January 05, 2010 1:00 PM
I was a little stunned when I hopped over here a few days ago and caught Rachel’s post about one-word resolutions for the new year, because before I’d already independently decided on one word that is my resolution for 2010.
Joy.
Our pastor once mentioned in a homily that the shortest verse in the original Greek New Testament is not John 10:35’s “Jesus wept” but 1 Thessalonians 5:16: “Rejoice always.”
“Always,” Father emphasized, does not mean “when you feel happy” or “when things are easy and life is going well.” It means always: even when life is exhausting or frustrating or scary or tragic. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 means we are supposed to celebrate the joy of the Trinity in every sort of circumstance.
My life at this time is incredibly blessed. Although it is sometimes exhausting, it is rarely frustrating and almost never scary or tragic. I have no need to rejoice in spite of my circumstances; my circumstances in themselves are a reason for rejoicing.
This is how I know I need joy to be my new resolution: because I have dozens of concrete reasons to rejoice, yet day in and day out I fail to live a joyful life.
I need help.
There’s no way to *make* joy, but there’s a simple way to get it: be open to receiving it. The One who is Perfect Joy wants to pour his joy into my heart if only I am willing to let him.
So I’m determined to let 2010 be the year when I am whispering into my Father’s ear at every turn: Lord, give me your joy. On the fifth day of the new year it’s early to tell, but I think it’s already starting to help. I firmly believe that Joy is a resolution I cannot fail to keep, because it depends not on me but on the One who made me. I falter constantly, but He is always faithful.
That is something to rejoice about.
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