“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

Rejoice is defined as the ability to feel or show great joy or delight. Habakkuk wrote in chapter 3:8, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The scripture begins with the word “yet”; he used yet as an adverb to refer to a time that starts in the past and continues up to the present. Recalling the affliction of God’s chosen children, Israel, and the Lord’s faithfulness bringing them out victoriously, Habakkuk resolved to delight and have joy in the Lord at all times!

Life circumstances can lead us in many directions. Some roads may seem to lead to despair, and others to exceedingly great joy, but regardless of the road we travel at any given time, God is faithful and with us always; He is the joy and the strength of our lives! Philippians 4:4 admonishes us to “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”

So, how do we rejoice always? It depends on where we focus our attention. Do we focus on things that are easily seen, touched, and fleeting—fast to fade away or easily upsetting us—sending us down a road of despair and uneasiness, or do we contemplate and cling to those things made visible by the spiritual eye, that which comforts the heart and brings joy deep down in our souls? The things that help us to see the power of Almighty God, who can and will work things out amid the problems we face? The word of the Lord gives us this assurance: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

The old gospel hymn says, “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away!” My friends, when Jesus is the captain and lover of our souls, and the object of all that we cling to, then we can run on in life with great expectations and exceeding joy. We do not walk this journey alone, but by the blessed assurance of the Holy Spirit living within our hearts. He is our comforter and constant guide, reminding us that God has the perfect plans for our lives. He is preparing us for something far greater than we can even begin to imagine. 

And yes, things can get mighty rough, but recall the words of Jeremiah to God’s chosen children, Israel, even in the midst of captivity for seventy years: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11. We can never give up, because God will never give up on us!

There’s a bright light at the proverbial end of the tunnel. God knows what He is doing, and everything will work out according to His divine will. So, just like Habakkuk, let us resolve to rejoice in the Lord, regardless of our current circumstances, favorable or unfavorable. We can praise God, resting in the assurance of the words in Romans 8:37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” 

Jesus loves us and knows all about our troubles. His amazing grace and tender mercies are able to keep us in perfect peace and give us the strength to run this race with victory every single day. May God help us all to let go and let Him have His way! “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.

May the blessings of the Lord’s peace and joy be with you always!