Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Summary: Paul’s admonition to “rejoice” is both a delight and a puzzle. When we take a closer look at what he says, we find that what he asks us to do is really quite simple.
When Paul says “Jump!,” I jump! When he says, “Rejoice!” I say, “Huh?”
What does he mean?
The online dictionary defines “rejoice” as “feel or show great joy or delight.” My old college Webster’s dictionary simply says, “to feel joy or gladness.”
Honestly, I always thought there was more to it.
Take David, for example.
When he brought the “ark of the Lord” to Jerusalem, he danced before the Lord with “all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14-16). “Leaping and dancing before the Lord” seems like a reasonable definition of “rejoice,” but it would only be partially right.
A far more common use of the word is the dictionary version, to “feel joy.”
The Greek word Paul used was “chairō.” Strong’s Lexicon defines the word as “to be “cheer”ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off…”*
Hmmm…
That doesn’t sound like over-the-top jumping and leaping around. It sounds more like a description of someone who knows Jesus and knows that their sins have been forgiven.
There is a famous proverb that talks about this:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
— Proverbs 3:5-6
Imagine letting go of all of your worries. You have left all your past sins at the foot of the cross. Every bit of guilt and shame you once felt over things you have said, done, or even just thought in your past has been lifted from your shoulders.
Each new day is a blank slate. A new opportunity to walk as a free man or woman. Each night is an opportunity to rest and enjoy the peace of God.
As long as we don’t slip into trying to maneuver ourselves back into the driver’s seat, life is good.
Would it be fair to describe this as “joy or gladness?”
Yes, I think it would.
Perhaps that is what Paul is really pointing us to. Maybe he is just reminding us to keep a tight grip on Jesus’ hand as we make our way through the day.
Application: Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
Food for Thought: Why does Paul need to remind us to rejoice in the Lord?
“G5463 – chairō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (niv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 17 Nov, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5463/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
Why does Paul need to remind us to rejoice in the Lord?
Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
This is simple, so very easy when we view life and judge all events to be good. Find ourselves in agreement with, happy with every aspect in our lives. Like skipping down the yellow brick road.
However, this can become a pretty tough one. How can we rejoice in the middle of a major disaster in our lives? How do we rejoice when we lose a loved one?
We of ourselves, do not. We are developing, spiritual beings confined within physical bodies which tend to affect our response to all events around us.
I do know, as a child of God, every time I have personally been in the midst of what I viewed as a major disaster in my life, or in anger over what I viewed as a gross injustice, I have turned to God. I have very clearly expressed my anger regarding the great injustice He has allowed to come into my life. Somehow, He has always removed my anger, and replaced it with His peace. Time has passed and today I see more clearly as I have become slower to anger and stronger in retaining Gods peace in all circumstances.
Real joy is not getting what we want to be happy but in realizing our sovereign, loving God knows and always does the exact thing we need. After all we are people deserving judgement yet have received salvation.
Thank you, Ron!
You make such an important point: What we want is not always what we need. God knows what we need! When we accept that, we can rejoice!