Rejoice

Have you ever had one of those seasons where everything seems to either go wrong or you just can’t manage to stay well?  One of those really hard seasons where no matter what you do everything just seems so difficult? 

​I have to say this has been one of those seasons for me.  I have had such a hard year of getting sick and fighting to stay well.  I am one of those people who hardly ever gets sick, even when my boys started preschool and everyone got the flu, I still managed to stay well.  However, this season of life has been so tough.  I have been knocked down, with some type of sickness, for more days than I can count this season.  I feel like it is at least once a month that I hit a wall and am down for the count.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I had the most awful and painful stomach bugs of my entire life.  As I was trying to sleep, just so the pain would go away, I kept hearing God say, “just pray.”  So as I would drift in and out of consciousness I kept praying. 

Then later today I was spending some time with God and I asked Him why this has been such a hard time.  I know several of my friends and even family members who have been having a really hard season of sickness.  God reminded me of the verse Philippians 4:4-7 (New International Version), “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again; Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Rejoice!  We need to rejoice not just when times are good and easy, but all the time. 

​The Hebrew word for rejoice, לשמוח (lissemokha) means, “be happy, feel joy or great delight.”  Why are we to rejoice in all seasons?  Because when we rejoice it turns our hearts and focus on the One who delights in us.  When we rejoice it reminds us of our good Father and the many blessings He has bestowed on us.  When we rejoice it changes our heart condition from looking inward to looking outward towards heaven.  
So I put this challenge out to you and even myself.  If you are going through any hard seasons, let the first thing out of your mouth be rejoicing.  Rejoice in your heavenly Father!  Cry out to the heavens, rejoice in your loudest voice and praise JEHOVAH ELOHIM (our protector). 

​Dani Noe, Sozo & Admin Pastor