Rejoice in the Lord

With everything going on in the world today, many people feel like our future seems barren of any joy. It’s easy to think that, especially when all we’ve seen lately is pain, anger, and sorrow.

We are commanded to rejoice… always. In everything? In the difficult days? In the dark nights? Yes, in every season. Jesus took our death and replaced it with the gift of permission. We have the RIGHT to be joyful because Jesus died and covered everything in His victorious blood. Since practicing rejoicing and delighting with Jesus lately, the other night I had a dream where I kept saying Isaiah 35. When I woke up I looked it up and the title of the passage is “Zion’s Joyful Future”

“The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; The Arabah (desert) will shout in exultation and blossom Like the autumn crocus. It will blossom abundantly And rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, The majesty of [Mount] Carmel and [the plain] of Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, The majesty and splendor of our God. Encourage the exhausted, and make staggering knees firm. Say to those with an anxious and panic-stricken heart, “Be strong, fear not! Indeed, your God will come with vengeance [for the ungodly]; The retribution of God will come, But He will save you.” Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the desert. And the burning sand (mirage) will become a pool [of water] And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, where they lay resting, Grass becomes reeds and rushes. A highway will be there, and a roadway; And it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for those who walk on the way [the redeemed]; And fools will not wander on it. No lion will be there, Nor will any predatory animal come up on it; They will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD will return And come to Zion with shouts of jubilation, And everlasting joy will be upon their heads; They will find joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:1-10 (AMP)

I believe light will outshine the darkness that seems to overtake us today. That is how Jesus works, He doesn’t cause bad situations but He will take them and bring beauty from ashes. He will win over the enemy every time. Don’t let the media and all the fake news turn your eyes away from Jesus. Don’t let religion fool you into thinking we are being punished by God. Jesus delights in us daily and every negative thing in this life, He died for and replaced it with a provision and opportunity to become more like Him. I don’t believe our future is dark – I believe our future is brighter than ever before and we will see believers rise up in their full potential; using their God-given gifts to bring light to the darkness. Be strong! Do not fear! Rejoice in the Lord. ??

Leave a Reply