Rejoicing in the Lord Releases Us from Worry and Woe
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4 (KJV)
Question: Have you ever wondered why we are often in a hurry to worry or feel woe? Worry is defined as to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; to fret and woe is defined as grievous distress, affliction, or trouble (Dictionary.com). What we worry about or walk into woe is a plethora of personal circumstances and expected and unexpected life events. For example, these could include one’s faith, finances, family, future, faculties, facilities, food, and favor, just to name few. No matter what season you are in your spiritual walk with God there are times that you will forfeit your faith and jettison your joy because of worry and woe.
In Philippians chapter four, Paul points to the fact that the secure mind is a mind that mitigates the trap of worry and woe by being resolute in rejoicing in the Lord, not our circumstances. Rejoicing is to be glad in God and it liberates us from being walled in by worry and woe. We can rejoice in the Lord always because God always changes the willing and surrendered soul that seeks His purpose and places him or herself in His Presence as opposed of sitting and settling in his or her circumstances.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 (KJV)
Even in considerable, challenging circumstances we are called to “rejoice in the Lord always,” which means joy is always available in God. Paul also calls us to make a choice not to worry: “Be careful for nothing” (Philippians 4:6a, KJV). Biblically speaking to “be careful” or “be anxious” means literally “to be torn apart.”
We give worry a welcome mat when our thoughts and feelings pull us in different directions and consequently “tear us apart.” Our minds and hearts park in our problems and these feelings force a falsehood which we follow in our hearts. These lies consequently create a debilitating cycle that wrecks our emotional state. Our minds tell us we should not fret, but we often cannot control the anxiety in our hearts! We must break this cycle of worry and woe before we can enjoy peace.
The way to wrestle and win against worry and woe is to walk in the influence of God’s power.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 (KJV)
Resolve to rejoice in the Lord and you will be released from the incarceration of worry and woe.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR