In Jude’s doxology he gives praise and points our focus to the one and only one who can not only keep us from falling, and keep us standing firm in the Spirit of truth – but also the one who gives us reason to rejoice.

Now in our modern language, sometimes words lose their power. Rejoice here should be read as having abundant joy. Exceeding all other expressions of happiness and excitement. This is a seam busting, sadness crushing, all consuming joy. This is better than your new job, better than graduating, better than your wedding day and better than your kids birth. This is joy that comes from being brought from death to life. From prison to freedom. From lost to found. From destruction to salvation. This is real joy.

Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, 25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.

Jude 24-25

This joy is partly our response. Yes, He is overwhelmingly good to us. We never earned His favor. As I have already said, in His good grace, He has decided to keep our feet firmly planted and given us faith to stand on. What are we to do then but respond in joyful worship!

More than that, the act of rejoice certainly is commanded, all the time:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Philippians 4:4

But is this possible, all the time? I mean I want to be happy just as much as the next person, but is it realistic to think I will always be able to rejoice despite my very real and difficult circumstances? Can I really worship Him in joy when I am hurting?

Even more so, should we believe when we are in seasons that are difficult to rejoice, that we are far from Him, or that he has forsaken us? Absolutely not.

Like all commands of Christ, we will always fall short in actual application. This is the beauty of grace.

More than just a response of worship, this is a gift from God himself. It’s less about what we do, Gods joy is not transactional. He gives us fullness of joy, because He is fullness of joy. It is in His actual presence.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Even in our disobedience, God is still faithful, and although we may temporarily waiver, He still makes known the path of life.

Should we think that our lack of joy is an act of disobedience or a failure of faith? Absolutely not.

I have heard both of these lies come from both within the church and from outside. Understand this: momentary pain or toil should cause us to to take pause and examine or hearts and actions, but it isn’t always because of our heart and actions.

Yes, we should take time to reflect, to see if we are indeed living according to and in light of scripture. Truthfully we should do this by habit in both joyful and joyless times! If we are not walking along or seeking out the path of life, or willingly exempting ourselves from His presence by avoiding scripture, prayer and fellowship, we will be void of joy. Often suffering and difficulty is used in Gods purposes to draw us near to Himself. So in our joyless moments, we should be swiftly reminded to seek Him first.

This is why Paul writes we should rejoice in hope even when we experience trouble, and instructs us to do so by the work of patience and prayer.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 12:12

Remember how I said words have lost their meaning? Well hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. You see, when we experience difficulties, or are stuck in sadness and grief, we must first pause, and pray. We not only pray for patience in our suffering or tribulation but we pray in hope.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

Psalm 42:5

You see hope isn’t just a feeling, and yes it is an expectation, but not one rooted in fallibility. Hope in God is knowing that the creator of the universe, who set stars in motion and painted butterflies, the God who made man from dust and breathed all life into this world, that He is our help and he doesn’t not abandon us in our trouble.

And in His presence, there is unbreakable, unshakable, unimaginable joy. Yes in this life, we do not know this fully. In this life we can only experience this partially. But in hope, despite every circumstance, even death, we know with bold confidence, that we will be in His presence and His joy will consume every tear. This is the path to life, everlasting life.

As always, if you know someone struggling to find Gods joy in their life, be with them, and minister to them. If you need help, caring for another or yourself, seek out a trained pastor or biblical counselor. If needed, Good&Well is available here.

Peace be with you.