The Top Five Reasons I am Rejoicing Today

There is a huge difference between happiness and joy. Happiness depends upon circumstances going in a favorable way. Joy is quite different. Joy comes from a personal relationship with the Lord. The Old Testament prophet Habakkuk spoke of this to the people when he detailed the six crucial things in Israel’s economy.

He said, “Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the field yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls–
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.”
Habakkuk 3:17-19 NKJV

Even if all six essential things should fail, the Lord would still be there in unfailing sovereignty and strength. For this the Old Testament prophet confidently affirms that the Lord is his faithful source of joy. For believers today, we know that joy is that inner gladness which comes from a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is fruit that the Holy Spirit grows in our lives according to Galatians 5:22-23.  We may very well not be happy about the circumstances. However! We still can have joy if we know the Lord Jesus personally as our Savior and if we are walking in fellowship with Him.

With this mind, I want to tell you that there are at least five things today that cause me to rejoice.

1. I am rejoicing today because I know that He is God. “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:1-2).

2. I am rejoicing today because He promises never to leave us. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

3. I am rejoicing today because His Word is true and will accomplish His purpose. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

4. I am rejoicing today knowing that everything about my life is under His control. “But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, You are my God. My times are in Your hand” (Psalm 31:14-15).

5. I am rejoicing today because this could be the day that the Lord will come in the air for us. “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).