Rejoice at All Times
Though the storm may swirl outside, I rest inside the shelter of joy.
Scripture: Rejoice at all times. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (BSB)
The heart of this devotional beats with a quiet but unshakable joy. Simpson urges us to preserve joy like a sacred ember in the soul—one that should never be smothered, no matter the winds of trial. The joy he speaks of isn’t rooted in feelings or favorable circumstances. It's the joy that flows from Christ Himself—springing eternal from union with Him.
Simpson traces the loss of Israel’s inheritance to murmuring. Before giants in the land ever caused fear, it was the muttering of discontent that corroded trust in God’s promises. Joy, he insists, is not optional—it is protective. It is our bulwark against despair, depression, and the enemy's schemes. To murmur is to crack the armor; to rejoice is to remain safely encased in the risen life of Jesus.
Even the smallest seed of complaint, like a hairline fracture in glass, threatens the whole structure if not surrendered quickly. But Simpson offers a hopeful image: a tiny insect inside the glass pane, seemingly threatened by a predator, is untouched. Not because of its strength, but because of its placement—within a barrier it didn’t build, yet which fully protects.
So it is with us when we rest inside the Spirit-filled life of Christ. Our rejoicing is not an escape—it is the proof that we know where we are: safe in Him.
Personalized Journal Entry in the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
I am the joy that cannot be shaken, and I dwell in you. Rejoice in Me always. Let your gentleness be known to all, for I am near. I have made your heart My home and have crowned you with gladness in place of mourning. Do not let the days define your joy. My joy defines your days.
The enemy waits for a sigh, for a grumble, for a restless turn of the soul. But you are no longer of the wilderness. You have crossed over in Me. In everything, give thanks—not because circumstances are kind, but because I am unchanging. I encircle you with songs of deliverance. I rejoice over you with singing.
I call you to guard joy like a treasured possession. Not a feeling, but a fragrance of My presence. The moment you murmur, you loosen your grip on it. The moment you rejoice, you tighten it. Stay in Me, and joy will not be seasonal—it will be your atmosphere. You are not outside the window looking in. You are inside, sealed in grace, hidden with Christ in God.
The adversary may beat his wings, but the barrier is Me. And I am your peace. I have given you a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Wear it, beloved. And when others ask why you still sing—point to Me.
(Philippians 4:4–5; Isaiah 61:3; Psalm 32:7; Zephaniah 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18; Colossians 3:3)
Prayer of Confident Trust
Father, I rest in Your rejoicing over me. I do not have to create joy—I simply respond to the joy You’ve placed within me. You have given me all things in Christ, including the grace to praise You in every moment. Today, I acknowledge that rejoicing is not a mood but a manifestation of Your life in me. So I choose to agree with that life. I reject the enemy’s invitation to complain, and instead I savor the sweetness of being in Christ, where no sorrow can reach me. Thank You for this place of delight—this life of praise.
Devotional credit: Days of Heaven on Earth by A.B. Simpson
Photo credit: Unsplash.com