31 Days of Hope - Day 26

"This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." 

 Psalm 118:24

It's a popular verse you've probably heard. If you were raised in church, you probably even know the fun song that goes along with it.  You may be singing it in your head right now.  Or you may even be haunted by it a little as you remember the way you were "helped" out of bed in the morning as a kid, with your mother singing it cheerfully over you as you pulled the covers back over your head and begged for more sleep.  It's such a happy little tune.

But what about when life doesn't look so happy?  Does this verse apply then too? I, for one, think even more so.

You see, it's easy to rejoice and be glad when life is going pretty well for us.  We can look at the day we've been given and walk with a little spring in our step and a smile on our faces because things are good.

But when they aren't?  When it's a struggle to even get out of bed in the morning or get behind the wheel of the car to head out of the driveway, knowing the difficulties that await?  Well, that's when we need the reminder that even this day is God ordained.

Because He created this day, He knows what it holds for us.  He's aware of the difficult situations we will face in it.  He sees, and He guides.  And His sovereign presence gives us a reason to rejoice when pretty much none of the circumstances around us may seem to call for rejoicing and gladness.

It's a perspective shift from circumstances to Creator.  Furthermore, it's often a constant choice to rejoice when our present season of life doesn't seem to call for much rejoicing.

But it's a choice that is so very worth it.