First, I found three verses that helped me understand this command better.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. - Proverbs 17:22
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. - Habakkuk 3:17-18
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. - James 1:2-3
Then, I meditated on the verses and found out what I could about joy, and what it means to rejoice always! Here is what I learned:
Habakkuk tells us that even though bad things may happen to us, we can still be joyful because we don't have to put our hope and joy in those things, but in our salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Then, since we always have salvation, we can always have joy.
James 1:2-3 backs this up by saying that we should be joyful in the midst of trials, because trials test our faith, and that produces steadfastness. We should think and be joyful about the end result of our trials, instead of dwelling on how much misery we may be feeling.
The result of doing this is revealed in Proverbs 17:22, "A joyful heart is good medicine". Since, throughout the Bible, God tells us to be joyful, and joy is a fruit of the spirit, there are good consequences that come from obeying God by being joyful.
After studying the verses I found, I prayed that God would help me to look beyond the trial I may be facing, and at the good consequences that come from being joyful during the trial. I prayed that I would always find joy in the fact that I am saved and am one of God's children, because salvation is something to be joyful about, no matter what we may face.
I hope that this has encouraged you!
-Sarah :)
It was very encouraging. :)
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