Choose to Rejoice
And when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. - Acts 5:40-41
In the early days of the Church, the apostles were arrested and beaten for sharing the Good News. Yet their response was not one of anxiety or fear. Instead, they rejoiced! Why? Because “they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” The apostles’ joy was not dependent on their pain level or location; their joy came from knowing that they were obeying Christ’s command to share the Good News of the Gospel with the world.
Choosing to rejoice in the midst of stressful circumstances is not a normal reaction in our world. But it should be the Christian’s response. We know the One who is sovereignly reigning over all the earth. We know the Creator of the sunrise and the sunset. We know the Father who cares for His children. Therefore, we can rejoice in any and all circumstances. We can say with the apostle Paul, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Rejoice today, no matter what comes your way.
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice! - Charles Wesley
