January 7

The nuance of meaning in I Chronicles 16:10-12 may elude us upon first reading, but we must not allow ourselves to miss it. It says, “Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face and be in His presence. Remember the marvelous things He has done, His miracles, His righteousness.”

The Lord and His strength, His marvelous miracles and righteous judgments are glorious, but even if our lives may seem to be falling apart, even if there seems no miracle at hand and no righteousness in the circumstances that surround us—no matter what—we are to rejoice as we seek Him, as we seek the miracle we need, as we seek His righteous intervention into our situation!

Why would He expect us to rejoice even in our misery? Why would He admonish that we must rejoice though our hearts may be broken and our hopes disappointed? He does so because He desires His best for us! He wants us to reap the benefit of the assurance that His joy is our strength! His joy is a mighty force that He desires us to realize in any battle we face.

He knows that if we will but rejoice in Him—not in our situation which may be untenable, not in our achievements which may be negligible, not in our well-being which may be questionable—in Him! Only in Him—then will He be empowered to reach down from Heaven and deliver us! Our joy builds faith. Our faith invokes His power. His power is our victory!