16 Rejoice always, 1 Thessalonians 5:16

When everything’s going your way, it’s easy to rejoice. We all know that.

But those dark times, those not so fun times, is it so easy? Should it be?

Last week I was let go from a job I had been doing for about 11 years. I was given two days notice. Should I be rejoicing about that? In theory, sure, but in reality, it’s demoralizing and depressing. I can certainly give you reasons why I should rejoice but it’s still painful.

And yet, we’re told to rejoice. Combine this with yesterday’s verse, and it’s easy to want to lash out at those who were the messengers, the ones who called me and told me I have two more days with the company, but it does no good. Not one bit.

We all hit those dark times.

• Loss of a loved one.
• Loss of work.
• Someone who betrayed you or mistreated you
• Regrets about what you said or did.

So we’re in a conundrum, aren’t we? On the one hand, the Bible tells us we should rejoice always. But on the other hands, life happens.

Well, fortunately, the answer is in Jesus Christ. We absolutely cannot rejoice on our own. He gives us the strength. He gets us through that hour or that day or week.

How’s that old song go:

I’m learning to lean
Learning to lean
Learning to lean on Jesus

Finding more power than I’ve ever dreamed
Than learning to lean on Jesus.