Life can feel so heavy. Whether you are listening to the news, talking to a friend or just living in the midst of your exhausting day to day, there can be a lot to be discouraged about. For me, I am in a transition season at work and have had difficult conversations with my adopted children’s birth parents lately. It has drained me emotionally. If I am honest, some days I can get to the end of my rope. Does that sound at all familiar to any of you?

One thing that keeps me grounded is the constant presence of God despite all that is going on around me. Even if I don’t feel him, I am so grateful to have the Bible, His gift to us, where I can be reminded that He is faithful and good. I often sit with a section of the Bible each day and just reread it until it soaks into my soul. That may even mean revisiting the same passage over the course of a month or two!  Recently I have spent time reading over Philippians and find it so uplifting. Here is a passage I’d like you to read slowly. It is found in Philippians 4:4-9.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I love how the author, Paul, reminds us to rejoice in the Lord always. Not just when we are happy! So right now, when I am grinding through my workday, living the mundane, and working through hard times, I rejoice. Why? Not because my circumstances are perfect, but because He is always good. He is always faithful. He wants us to rejoice in Him and not be anxious about our circumstances. Paul also had plenty to be anxious about. He was in prison when he wrote these words for us. I can rejoice “in the Lord” despite my everyday circumstances, no matter how difficult they may be. 

That may resonate with some of you, but others may be in a different place in their journey. Maybe you are still wondering if God is good because you have been so hurt asking “Where are you, God?” Years back, when I was at my lowest point, wondering “why me?” about my diagnosis of bipolar disorder, I was so angry. I spent months stabilizing after medical recommendations from doctors. I had friends leave me. I felt so numb on all the anti-depressants and that I thought I would never feel or could rejoice again. It appeared it would be my plight forever. My mom suggested I read the Psalms every day. Here is one that I would pray:

Psalm 6:1-2

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Even in seasons of mourning, I pray that despite the challenges, we can all seek and know God’s goodness. He will answer us when we call. Rejoice in the Lord. Praise Him. If you don’t have the words yourself, open up the Psalms and read them aloud. Please also know that this community of women at Willowdale Chapel is here to support you as well. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Deacon Team if there is a tangible way we can support you. If you are a part of a small group, be vulnerable and take a risk in asking for help where you need it.  

I’ll leave us with a prayer:

Lord, we praise you for a new day.

You are faithful and good, even when we are not.

You are there for us in our trials.

You are our Holy, Almighty Father.

What a comfort that you loved us enough to die for our sins.

Thank you that we can now spend forever with you.

We rejoice in who you are, not what is going on around us.

Thank you for the promises in your word. 

We love you, God, and may we fall deeper in love with you.

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER

Susan Veenema and her husband, Jeremy, love exploring Chester County with their two older biological daughters and three adopted children.

Susan has been in education for almost 20 years supporting children with disabilities and their families. She currently works at the Department of Education.

One of her greatest joys is leading Thursday night women's Bible study and her couples community group. People are her passion. She loves to read, write and study everything from history to social sciences to the early church. You'll always find her trusty German Shorthaired Pointer by her side.