Always joyful in the Lord

The pain can be so bitter that it takes away the joy of the Lord in our lives and we can not allow this. Of course, there will be moments that this will get out of our hands, since God often allows us to go through extremely difficult processes and this in order to mature our faith in Him. In these moments of the Christian life there is nothing like looking back, turning away, or abandoning the path. All we have to do is delight ourselves in the Lord and place our utmost confidence in Him. When the heart feels overwhelmed, when circumstances are too heavy to carry, when tears flow without being able to stop them, that is precisely when joy in God becomes our greatest strength.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians:

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

A preacher once said: “Our first days in Christianity seem to be like a honeymoon, but after a while the Lord steps back a little so that we realize that without Him we are nothing.” This is very true, because when we are born again we feel a new atmosphere in our lives—a joy we have never tasted before. Everything seems radiant, prayers flow naturally, the presence of God feels close, and it is as though heaven itself were open above us. But then comes the reality of what it means to bear the cross, to suffer for the gospel, and to walk faithfully in a world that resists God. These moments test us, refine us, and often cause deep pain.

Let’s see, we must remember who is writing this exhortation. It is the apostle Paul. What do we know about Paul? The book of Acts describes his past: he was once a persecutor of the church of Christ, the fiercest enemy Christians had. But after his radical encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, Paul not only embraced the faith but also became one of the greatest defenders of the gospel. He knew very well what it meant to bear reproach for Christ. In 2 Corinthians 11:16 onward, he recounts the countless sufferings he endured: imprisonments, beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, dangers everywhere, rejection, and loneliness.

Besides this, did you know that Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians from prison? Think about that for a moment. A man imprisoned unjustly, with limited food, exposed to cold, overwhelmed by the many hardships he had endured, perhaps without receiving visits from friends or family, and surrounded by uncertainty about his future. A man whose life was constantly in danger and whose ministry had brought him more suffering than most believers could imagine—this man writes: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” And as if that were not enough, he emphasizes it by repeating: “Again I say, rejoice!”

What a powerful declaration from the apostle! Paul was not speaking from comfort, luxury, or ease; he was speaking from a dark prison cell. His joy was not based on circumstances, but on Christ Himself. This teaches us something profound: Christian joy is not the absence of trials; it is the presence of Christ in the midst of them. It is not built on emotions that change every day, but on the unchanging character of God, His promises, His faithfulness, and His eternal love.

In the same way, let nothing take away the joy of the Lord from your life. No matter the difficult moments, the unanswered questions, the unexpected storms, or the seasons of silence—rejoice in the Lord. This command is not cruel or insensitive; it is liberating. When we choose joy in God, we lift our eyes above the storm and fix them on the One who governs all things.

Joy in the Lord does not mean pretending that everything is fine; it means knowing that even when everything is falling apart, God remains faithful. It means trusting that He is with you in the valley, that He strengthens you in weakness, and that He sustains you when you feel like letting go. Rejoicing is an act of faith, a declaration that God is greater than the pain and that His purposes will prevail.

So today, take courage. Do not allow sorrow to steal what God has placed in your heart. Raise your hands, lift your voice, and rejoice in the Lord always. There is victory in praise, strength in worship, and peace in surrender. The same God who sustained Paul in prison sustains you in your trial. And as you rejoice, heaven fights for you.