Articles
Shackled but Rejoicing
It is no surprise, being the emotional beings we are, that circumstances can get the best of us. Our mind can become so consumed with the positivity or negativity of our circumstances that they are all we think of. But as Christians, we need to remember our God in all circumstances. Because whether we realize it or not, the good and the bad all have a purpose in glorifying His holy name.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: again, I will say, Rejoice!” The scales of our lives always seem to be teeter-tottering one way or the other. But the sheer power and strength of the Lord’s love for us is beyond compare. His desire to see us made whole and to be at peace outweighs our momentary afflictions and our triumphs. This is because both instances are being used by God, to prepare us for eternal glory with Him in heaven, and to keep us focused on this goal He has planned for us. This is not to say God allows or causes bad things in the world, because this is the work of the devil and sin. But It is to say that with all confidence in our heart we can have assurance that God will lift us from our afflictions; He will lift us up in a way that edifies us for a higher purpose beyond our momentary understanding. For this reason, we always should rejoice in the Lord our God with all our hearts.
As we rejoice in the Lord, we will no longer become shackled to our circumstance and in doing so we will become a light to others. Being ambassadors for God the more we act upon His teaching, the more we will become a shining beacon of hope in the darkness. Proof of this and how God’s glory can’t be quelled can be seen when we look at Paul’s imprisonment. Paul’s struggle became God’s glory, as he was able to reach fellow prisoners, Roman guards, and even members of Caesar’s guard. Paul knew that with God he was never truly alone and that as a follower of God, His strength becomes our strength. God is always with us and He has given us a vast spiritual family: we can physically see how we are never truly alone. They are all prisoners with us in this world and they are here for us just as we are for them. There are people in this life who have the exact same struggle that you might be presently facing. Never be afraid to turn to God, trust God, to lean on others, and most of all never be afraid to rejoice!
Inspired by: Phil. 4:22, Col. 4:18, Hebrews 13:3, 1 Cor. 10:13, Philemon v. 23, 1 Peter 5:6-10, Eph. 6:18-20, Phil. 3:20, Matt. 5:13-16, 1 Cor. 16:9, 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 2 Cor.16-18, Phil. 3:1, Col. 1:11-14
