“REJOICE ALWAYS” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Embarking on a new year offers the opportunity to look back, take stock and project ourselves into the immediate future with resolutions, expectations and wishes. Any survey of what shaped 2021 would easily highlight COVID-19 as number one. A more detailed questionnaire would zoom in on the many negative consequences of the pandemic, the very real struggles and the extent of the challenges people faced. We all have personal experiences we could share.

If there was a time for the relevance of the two shortest verses in the Bible to be magnified. It is this season. John 11:35, “Jesus wept,” known as the shortest verse in the English Bible, expresses Jesus’ love and compassion toward Lazarus’ family who was mourning his death. Amidst COViD-19 and its impacts, this same love and compassion from our Lord and Savior are available to us every day. This was true in 2021, and it’s equally true in 2022.

In recent years, I learned that the shortest verse in the original text of the New Testament (written in Latin and Greek) was, in fact, “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Apostle Paul urged believers in Thessalonica (and elsewhere) to be always full of joy. This statement triggers the obvious question of how is that possible, especially when things are not going our way?

The answer is not found in our circumstances but in the source of our joy. In Nehemiah 8:10, we read, “…and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Apostle Paul makes this very clear in Philippians 4: 4 as he states, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

The joy we are called to express is not happiness, which is primarily circumstantial, but it’s an everyday renewed intimacy with our Lord and Savior. As we respond to the call to cast all our cares or worries, including COVID-19 related ones, on Jesus, the renewed intimacy with Him allows us to receive His love, compassion and comfort. 1 Peter 2: 9 reminds us that we are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s special possession. This is a strong enough reason to rejoice always. We also rejoice in the hope that comes with knowing Jesus Christ. We rejoice in His love and compassion toward us. We rejoice in His presence in us. We rejoice in the expectation of our salvation. We rejoice in the faith that nourishes our intimacy with God. We rejoice in the building of our character as we face challenges. We rejoice in the expression of the Holy Spirit in us and much more.

As our 2022 journey begins, we have an opportunity to practice rejoicing always as we cast all our worries on Jesus. Would we fully and always succeed? I am not sure, BUT the discipline of joy, rooted in our relationship with our Lord and Savior and the power of His Spirit, will help us make progress.

Prayer: Thank you, God, for your presence, power, love, compassion and faithfulness. May your Spirit continually remind us of that reality as we embrace it every day in this new year 2022. Help us cast all our worries and burdens on you so we can rejoice in your presence. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.