The Power of Rejoicing Even in Dark Times
Photo by Shawn Ang
When was the last time you thanked God for something? I don’t mean a quick prayer over a meal—but a time when you paused and thanked Him for something at a random moment in the day.
Many of us haven’t adopted the simple habit of being thankful for the things we have and the “little” blessings God sends our way every day. Instead, we make assumptions and kind of take those things for granted, not seeing them in truth, according to their nature: Each and every one of them is a beautiful opportunity to worship the One who loves us and is leading us forward.
Practicing thankfulness is more important than we realize. The world needs us to be thankful and to worship the Lord with our gratitude.
Why Rejoice?
This is the Lord’s doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps. 118:23–24 NLT)
When I was a child and someone in the family was in a bad mood, my mom would start singing, “The joy of the Lord is my strength. The joy of the Lord is my strength…” I learned to do that with my own kids, and you can imagine how they responded—the song didn’t always work to smooth things over, and I got the same looks my mom did when she sang the song.
But singing those words truly helped my heart to connect with the goodness of God, no matter what. It helped me thank Him for everything, no matter what.
A thankful heart is precious to God. Even if there were no other benefits for being thankful, that one would be enough because it’s worship. Worship expels darkness and has an intense effect on the world around us.
When we choose to rejoice, we are stepping into the light instead of giving in to the demonic push to complain or to focus on all the things going wrong. We are choosing God’s way. The decision to rejoice helps drive out the darkness that’s trying to get us to fail.
In addition, being thankful will allow us to see “the Lord’s doing.” If we feel confused and depressed and have no idea what God is doing—we need to rejoice in Him, because this will open our eyes and help us behold His light once more.
Thank Him for His Love and Faithfulness
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. (Phil. 4:6–7 NIV)
In this season, I am doing two simple things that are making a difference in my heart. When I wake up, I make certain to say, “Thank You, Jesus, for Your great love and faithfulness.” When I go to sleep, I take a deep breath and thank Him again for His great love and faithfulness.
At times I’ve cried because of sadness, injustice, and the other things I see happening in the world and to my loved ones, who have gone through so much this year.
But I’ve also heard many stories of people persevering, trusting, and hoping. They are devoted to help, give, and impart blessings to others. We have seen people growing closer to the heart of Jesus and His love and forgiveness. Even in this heavy season, lives are being transformed, marriages are being restored, and singles are getting to know one another in a godly way. We’re seeing breakthrough in many areas of our lives and the lives of our loved ones, team members, and mentees.
I see so much goodness happening. Yes, there is pain, and some of us are surrounded by sorrow and fear. But the light of God has not failed or fallen short, and that’s why we can be thankful in dark times—because He’s moving and doing excellent things, and our hearts long to be aware of those things.
So take hope, be encouraged, and be thankful you’re on God’s side. Remember that if He is for you, nothing can stand against you.
Purposefully Practicing Gratitude
Sit down and make a list of the things you’re thankful for this year—good things that happened despite the strangeness of 2020. Afterward when you look at your list, you might be surprised because of what’s on that list and how much is on it. “My goodness. He really has been with me.”
Encourage your loved ones by letting them know how thankful you are for their lives. That’s a tradition in our family every Thanksgiving, and I strongly recommend it.
On behalf of our Becoming the One team and our children, we wish you a very blessed Thanksgiving! If you have the time, please click here and share with us what you are thankful for this year. What has God done for you? How are you rejoicing? We want to hear about it!
Interested in reading more about dating, relationships, and your walk with God? Here are a few articles on related topics:
For more information on sex, marriage, and finding the person who is right for you, get a copy of Becoming the One by Salomé Roat. Click here to learn more. The book is also available in Spanish.