“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.” – Philippians 4:4-5
The Bible tells us how to deal with worry and anxiety, and all of its instructions direct us to God.
Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
1 Peter 5:7 – “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Philippians 4:6–7 is another passage that counsels us to take our concerns to God rather than be anxious. Thankfully, although it may not be immediately obvious, Paul also tells us how to do that, beginning in verse 4 (Philippians 4:4–9).
- Rejoice in the Lord Always (vv. 4–5)
Rejoicing is possible for the believer at any time and through any circumstance. This is because the believer already has joy within them. Joy is part of the Christian inheritance (Galatians 5:22; Nehemiah 8:10b; Psalm 16:11; John 15:11; Romans 15:13; Romans 14:17).
Because we have joy, we can express joy at any time. Believers receive joy through the Holy Spirit at conversion. There is joy where God is; indeed, in His presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). Therefore, the believer has joy at all times. It is not received from external sources, nor is it dependent on circumstances. It is already present.
However, joy must be expressed intentionally. Paul used the word rejoice (chairete) in the imperative mood, which, as in English, expresses a command to the hearer to perform a specific action. This means that Paul was not making a suggestion; he was giving an instruction. He did not tell them to pray for joy. He told them to rejoice. This means that even though God has given us joy, He does not do the rejoicing for us. We must choose to rejoice. It is a command, an act of obedience, and something we do ourselves in order to express the joy we already possess.
The first step in battling anxiety is to step out in faith and rejoice, even when circumstances seem gloomy. A heart that is rejoicing cannot accommodate anxiety. If your mind is filled with thoughts that produce joy, it cannot simultaneously be filled with thoughts that produce anxiety.
So how do you get yourself to rejoice when it feels as though the earth is giving way beneath your feet?
a. Remember that you have joy and thank God for it. Confess that Satan cannot rob you of your joy and that you are choosing to rejoice. Say it aloud – as many times as necessary – until your heart agrees with what you are saying.
b. Spend time recalling God’s goodness toward you: past blessings, miracles, answered prayers, and fulfilled promises. Thank Him for them. Express your faith that He will do it again.
c. Listen to uplifting Christian music, and while doing so, pray in the Spirit and confess the Word. It will strengthen your spirit and stir up rejoicing.
As you rejoice, it will be reflected in your relationships with others. Paul says in verse 5, “Let your gentleness be known to all people.” When we rejoice inwardly, it becomes evident outwardly. Our relationships improve. People are blessed, rather than burdened, by our presence.
Paul gives the reason for this attitude: “The Lord is at hand.” Therefore, we should avoid conflict, bickering, envy, and strife, all of which rob us of peace.
