How do you handle the difficulties in life? Well, Nat King Cole, singing lyrics written by Charlie Chaplain’s, said to just smile.

Well, that’s one philosophy, sort of a grin-and-bear-it mentality, if you will. But God calls us to something better than that. He doesn’t say fake it ’til you make it. No, He commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, “Rejoice always.” To rejoice is to express deep, heartfelt joy. And God commands us to do this always. Rejoice always. That means when it’s good and when it’s bad.

That’s easy to do in the good times. Rejoicing then is natural. But how can we rejoice in the bad times? How can we have genuine, deep, heartfelt joy in the bad times?

We can rejoice even then because while our circumstances may not be good, God is always good. You see, rejoicing is an active response of the heart and soul to who God is and what He has done. And when we focus on Him, we can rejoice always, even in the bad times.

In sunlight bright or shadowed gloom, When flowers bloom or fill the tomb,

My soul shall lift a song of praise: “Because of God, rejoice always.”

For joy’s not built on shifting sand, But on the Rock—made not by hand.

Though tears may fall and hearts may break, His promises He’ll ne’er forsake.

So come what may—both gain and loss—I’ll fix my eyes upon the cross.

For there I see, through joy and strife, The Savior who is Joy and Life.

Change begins in you!