The Apostle Paul issues it as a command and repeats it for emphasis. “Be filled with joy!” This is a command with universal appeal. What believer does not want to rejoice in the Lord? Surely this is not a difficult command to obey. Or is it?


How does one rejoice always regardless of circumstance? Does Paul expect believers to turn off their emotions and wear a mask of superficial happiness when nothing could be further from
the truth?


Jesus Himself wept at the death of Lazarus. Elsewhere Paul instructs believers to mourn with those who mourn. So there must be more to having joy in the Lord than just emotional happiness. The uniqueness of having joy in the Lord begins with its source. It does not come from within us, contrary to what the world may tell you today. It is not derived from our circumstances. Rather, joy comes from the Lord. It becomes ours because we are in Him and He is in us (John 17:22-23). In a mysterious way the joy of the Lord dwells deeply in the hearts of those who belong to Him.



About the writer:

An invaluable part of Haven Ministries, David Wollen has been on staff as Haven’s Chief Operating Officer since 2005. He and his wife Marci have a little girl and another expected to be born in the middle of this month. David is active in his church’s college-age and men’s ministries and enjoys just about anything outdoors, especially
distance running.