“To rejoice always is to trust in the goodness of God.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 25, 2025
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Have you ever found Paul’s exhortation to rejoice always just a little bit out of touch? Maybe even a tad annoying? If so, you’re not alone. Whether in a season of trial, or simply at the end of an overwhelming, exhausting day, the last thing one feels like doing is rejoicing. Must we really perform song and dance when our hearts and bodies are weary and worn? Does Paul expect his readers to don a happy face and “fake it ‘til they make it”? Or perhaps is the apostle’s idea of rejoicing something different and altogether less feelings-dependent than “happy clappy” praise?
There is a clue to help us answer that question in the context of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. He wrote to them from prison. He experienced suffering to the extreme and faced certain execution. It is safe to say that Paul’s notion of rejoicing does not exclude sorrow or suffering. The Bible is replete with examples of God’s faithful ones experiencing profound sadness. Just read the Psalms! Nowhere in Scripture are we instructed not to feel weary or sad; but we are instructed not to grumble or complain. It is the grumbling spirit that is the antithesis of rejoicing in the Lord, not the sorrowful one. Put in a positive light, the one who trusts in the Lord and his unfailing goodness is the one who rejoices in the Lord, even when the feelings of jollity are nowhere to be found. When we allow ourselves to grumble or indulge in complaining, we are essentially saying we do not trust God in his handling of our circumstances. We become like God’s people in their journey through the wilderness en route to the Promised Land. No food from heaven, no water from a rock could satisfy them. Instead of rejoicing in God’s awesome provision, they looked for the next thing about which they could raise a complaint.
We all fall short and behave like those moaning Hebrews at times. But do not let it become your habit! When tempted to complain, turn your thoughts to the goodness of God. When you start to look for it, you will find endless evidence in the smallest to the greatest matters of your life. In every circumstance, in every mood, choose to rejoice in the God who has been good to you. Yes, always.
Prayer
Faithful Father, it is so easy to fall into a grumbling attitude when frustrations come my way. Forgive me when I do, and sanctify me to have a rejoicing spirit that always looks for and trusts in your goodness.
Application
When tempted to grumble this week, pause and enumerate the ways God has been good to you. Choose to turn your grumbling to rejoicing!
Related Reading
Psalms 100; Habakkuk 3:17-18; John 16:22; Romans 12:12
Worship Resource
CeCe Winans: Goodness of God
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