Rejoice in the Lord

I have a testimony. Recently I randomly started to feel weighed down. Just like that. Nothing happened. This, in a time when I was really doing well, amidst all I endure.

With the absence of a stimulus and a history of mental health challenges I knew better than to submit to what I was feeling, so I started to pray and also asked for prayer. After praying, a friend of mine came back to say the impression she got was that the enemy was seeking to pull me into a depressive episode in an effort to steal the place of joy and gratitude I’ve been defending.

Then she said “I also just heard ‘sing’”. Lol ok? I found that quite interesting, especially since it wasn't the first time getting that instruction from the Lord in a context like this.

I didn't understand it in the first instance but now I realise that there is truly power in praise to reposition our minds, and hearts as well as to shield us against the enemy. No wonder the Psalms urge us so often to rejoice. There is something about taking the focus off the issues we face, and placing it on the everlasting God, through praise, that breaks heaviness off us. 

Paul writing to the church in Philippi starts chapter 3 saying, “Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

In the Hebrew language many different words represent the English's “rejoice”, but what I found consistent among all the meanings I saw was that they all speak to exuberance, almost as if the aggressive attempts to derail us require an equally or more aggressive response. Whether it's to shout, leap, make merry, sing aloud etc, every definition suggests vigorous action. One in particular, giyl, means “to spin around under the influence of violent emotion, usually joy”. Another, âlaz, means “to jump for joy”. 

In the world it's believed that joy only comes when we receive what we want, but in the Kingdom joy is to be practised regardless. It is a safeguard; a means to the end, not the result. “Rejoice in the Lord” is an instruction that if we obey, depression can be repelled and our faith can be strengthened. Rejoicing in God can also give the strength necessary to endure hardship. 

The enemy doesn't test you or come after what you have just to frustrate you. He's after what you believe. He's after your faith. It makes sense to me why a promise to oppressed Israel of “a garment of praise for heaviness” was given (Isaiah 61:3). The New Living Translation says “festive praise instead of despair.”

In the moments that we choose to command our souls towards joy instead of yielding as though we're powerless, we bolster our faith. My encouragement is this, when you seem to be sinking under the weight of hardship, reinforce your faith jumping for joy (âlaz). The next time the adversary of your soul threatens depression, doubt or despair, sing aloud of the goodness and promises of God and see what happens.

Saints, rejoice in the Lord. Always.