Is it possible for a Christian to rejoice always?
Rejoice in hardships Among all of God’s apostles, Paul wrote much about how to rejoice in hardships although he seemed to have cause for nothing but sorrow. For him, however, sorrow and joy are not mutually exclusive alternatives, for he knew well how to rejoice amid trials and persecution. Paul wrote to the Church of Corinthians, “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10). The apostle rejoiced in God’s providential leading. This attitude reflected the mind of Christ. And Paul encouraged the believers to press on “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer” (Romans 12:12 also Hebrews 2:10–18). Paul’s spirit of victory is probably best seen in the book of Philippians, whose key word is “rejoice.” Yet, when he wrote that book he was in prison, forsaken, alone, and in danger of immediate death. He wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, 11). * God’s gift of joy The Lord not only supp