Choosing Joy. Always. - Sophia Koeshall

Choosing Joy. Always. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 

This verse has been on repeat in my mind for quite a few weeks. Always is an all-encompassing word that holds more weight than I give it credit for. As the Lord has brought this verse to the forefront of my mind, I have continually meditated on what it means to truly rejoice in the Lord always. 

Honestly, the Fellowship is so much fun. Before moving to Horn Creek, I was told that the year ahead would be amazing but very hard. Many people warned me about the challenges I would face, preparing me for the worst, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had fun right from the start. It was easy to rejoice in every situation as I was learning my job, making new friends, and enjoying the activities and beauty of Colorado. As the Fellowship continued on, more challenges presented themselves and I found myself falling more frequently into complaints and complacency. Of course, life was mostly happy, but I only rejoiced in the happy times and tried to quickly get through the hard times. That is when the Lord started convicting me with Philippians 4:4. 

For most of my life, I have considered myself a very joyful person; I am able to find something to be happy about in almost every situation. The last few months have challenged what I believe about true joy and how well I obey the command to rejoice always. The Lord started convicting me about choosing joy in every circumstance when shoveling snow became part of our daily work. One day, I began to wonder how I would feel each of the many times I will have to shovel snow in the upcoming months and whether I will still be happy I came to Colorado. In that moment, this verse popped into my mind: “rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.” The Lord quickly reminded me that He brought me to Horn Creek according to His will and that my response to every circumstance I face, whether or not it is challenging, should be rejoicing. My life is not meant to be lived for the praise or happiness or success or comfort I can find for myself but is only meant to be lived for God’s glory. 

Nowhere in the Bible does the Lord say it is ok to grumble or bemoan what He has placed in front of us. Instead, He tells us to always be thankful, seek first His Kingdom, be holy as He is holy, and consider others as better than ourselves. Our purpose on this earth is to bring glory to God, and He outlines specifically how to do that in His Word. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It seems that a large part of our joy is based on thankfulness. God, in His Sovereignty, places us exactly where He wants us and gives us what we need for life and godliness, as 2 Peter 1:3 says. If I trust that the Lord is sovereign, good, and loving, how could I not constantly thank Him? But even when I am blinded by my sin and lose sight of His goodness and faithfulness, I am still commanded to thank and praise Him. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame, for the joy set before Him. That same joy is set before us who have placed our faith in Jesus and have the hope of Heaven. Nothing on this earth can compare to that joy, but I must make the choice everyday to focus on the joy of Heaven instead of the cares of this world. 

Choosing joy in every situation is an immense task. In the times I am serving tables full of needy people, shoveling snow early in the morning after not getting a lot of sleep, holding others accountable when it would be easier to let their sins slide, turning camp on a time crunch, and loving my other Fellows well when I am personally struggling, I am commanded to choose joy. How I am feeling does not affect how faithfully I am required to obey this command. Philippians 4:4 is continuing to bring to light the depth of my selfishness and the high calling it is to praise God always. I am so thankful for the Lord’s conviction in this area and am praying that He will continue to grow me in my ability to rejoice in all circumstances throughout the fellowship and for the rest of my life. 

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