“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
The joy word in my Treasury of Scripture for this verse brought me to 1 Thessalonians 5:16 which commands us to rejoice always. In the Greek the words are placed in the order of emphasis so the literal translation would be this "at all times be rejoicing." That is quite a command. Now the word rejoice brought me to the driftwood plaque that a sister in the Lord made for my family and the Warren Wiersbe Be Joyful book that my family gifted hers with. I do not think this is a coincidence...thinking these are words from Jesus to both families involved.
Truly, the only thing that matters is Jesus and yes we are to rejoice because He is ours and whatever He is doing in my life and in my sweet sister's life and in our lives together is from Him. Yes, we are sorrowful yet always rejoicing because He is at the helm...He is ordering all the events in both our lives for our good and His glory. (Romans 8:28) He is our Comforter...He manifiests Himself to those who love Him...He comes and makes His home with those who keep His word and therefore love Him. His joy is in our salvation...His joy is our Oneness with Him. The book and the driftwood are His reminders to both our families to REJOICE...
In chapters13-17 of John the words joy and full are mentioned 8 times. Remember that this was our Lord's darkest time...it was the hour of his betrayal..it was the hour when all forsook Him and it was the hour of his death. It was also His hour that shines with the most glory...it was the hour that our salvation was brought near. Yes, they would be sorrowful that He was going away but He had to go away in order to bring them back to Him. He had to go away in order to send them the Holy Spirit. He had to go away in order that they might be with Him always. If they had truly understood what Jesus was saying they would have rejoiced! Thinking that that is what He is telling us...If we truly understood what Jesus is doing in our lives, we would rejoice...so Jesus tells us to trust Him and to ...REJOICE...this is all for your good. Yes, these are pretty dark times but we can rejoice in the Lord throughout no matter how sorrowful, frustrated and yes, insane our circumstances might sometimes make us.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.--Philippians 3:1
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!--Philippians 4:1
Rejoicing with my sweet sister and praying that both of us would abound in love and hope by the power of His Spirit who dwells in us. Beloved, don't grow weary in doing good. Run the race with endurance that He has set before you...looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”--John 16:33
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.--2 Corinthians 6:4-10..
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.--Matthew 5:12
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”--Luke 10:20
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;--Romans 12:12
