Rejoice Joy: A Heavenly Deposit “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 A few years back, there was a movie titled The Pursuit of Happyness (yes, that is how it is spelled). In this movie, a man stayed persistent through homelessness and poverty to become a successful businessman. The movie portrays how perseverance can push you to achieve the “American Dream.” According to our U.S. Declaration of Independence, we are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these rights is the “pursuit of happiness.” However, if we are in constant pursuit, do we ever possess and overtake happiness? Are we ever really satisfied? What happens when our external circumstances change? Are we once again in pursuit of this sometimes elusive and fickle emotion? Scripture points us to something deeper than happiness. The word rejoice speaks to having a deep internal jubilation. Biblically speaking, it is something not moved by outside influences. You see, joy is a fruit of the Spirit. It is innate in the believer by the Holy Spirit. We do not have to pursue it, chase it, or even conjure it up. As mentioned in last week's devotional, we only have to receive it. It is a gift given by God to His children. We only have to choose to look inside and remember the gift given to us by our Father. This deep, abiding sense of jubilation is not because all is well on the outside; it comes from knowing that all is well on the inside. It is well with our souls. The Spirit of God within us allows us to smile through tears and laugh through pain. It allows us to continue celebrating when the party ends, and to keep dancing when the music stops. This joy is unshakeable, unmovable, and everlasting. It is our strength. So today, stop, look inside, and rejoice! Joy is here. There is no need to chase it; it lies within every believer. Therefore, we can rejoice in the Lord always, and again, and again, and again. Follow & Stay Connected: NechamaCoaching.com

Rejoice: Return to Joy “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 As we continue in this Year of “Re,” we are seeing how many of the “Re” words in Scripture call us to return; to revisit truths that anchor our faith. One meaning of the prefix “Re” is again. The Apostle Paul captures this idea beautifully when he writes: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice.” Paul repeats the instruction because rejoicing is not something we do once and move on. It is something we return to again and again. Our hearts naturally drift toward worry, discouragement, and uncertainty. Because of that, we must continually redirect our focus back to the Lord. Every time we turn our focus back to Him, we find joy again. Although the world may seem out of control… Rejoice. When circumstances feel heavy and uncertain… Rejoice. When the path ahead seems unclear… Rejoice. Why? Because God is still on the throne. Rejoicing does not mean we ignore difficulty. It means we continually return our hearts to the truth that God is still sovereign, still faithful, and still at work. So in this Year of “Re,” we take Paul’s instruction seriously: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice.” Over the next few weeks, we will continue unpacking what it means to rejoice and how we can keep returning to joy no matter what life brings.

Remember: How Great Is Your Faithfulness “But in my mind I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope — that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted, that His compassion has not ended. On the contrary, they are new every morning! How great Your faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:21–23 (CJB) As we have discovered over the last few weeks, the Prophet Jeremiah did not find hope by changing his circumstances. He found hope by changing his focus. He made a deliberate decision to return his mind to what was unchanging the character of God. He remembered three unshakable truths: - Unexhausted Grace God’s grace does not run out. It does not diminish with time, nor does it withdraw when we struggle. His grace sustains, restores, and strengthens us in every season. - Unending Compassion His compassion has not ended. His love remains present, active, and covering us even in seasons of uncertainty or pain. - Unwavering Faithfulness Faithfulness is the very essence of who God is, consistent, firm, unwavering, and steadfast. Scripture reminds us in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our consistency. It flows from His character. He does not change. He does not withdraw. He does not fail. God reminds us of His character in Malachi 3:6: “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” In our joys, sorrows, certainty, doubts, confusion, weakness, or pain, God remains faithful. This is why we must continue to remember. Remember His faithfulness when all seems to be at peace. Remember His faithfulness when prayers seem unanswered. Remember His faithfulness when the path feels unclear. Remember His faithfulness when your strength feels insufficient. Remember His faithfulness when everything around you seems uncertain. His grace is still unexhausted. His compassion is still unending. His faithfulness is still unwavering. What He has spoken, He will fulfill. What He has promised, He will complete.

Remember: His Compassion Has Not Ended “But in my mind I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope — that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted, that His compassion has not ended. On the contrary, they are new every morning! How great your faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:21–23 (CJB) The word compassion comes from the Hebrew word racham (רָחַם), which expresses deep, tender affection that moves one to act with mercy and loving care. It is closely related to rechem (רֶחֶם), meaning womb, revealing a picture of protective, nurturing love — the kind of love a mother has for her child (Isaiah 49:15). Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon, H7355; H7356 This compassion is not distant or temporary. It is covenant love; steadfast, unchanging, and intentional. God’s compassion is His love for us. His never-ending, unfailing love (Jeremiah 31:3). His love sustains us. His love protects us. His love reaches for us in moments of weakness. Because of His compassion, we can rest. As a child rests safely in their mother’s arms, we too can rest securely in the arms of God, held, covered, and sustained by His steadfast love. This week, remember His love: Remember His love when life takes an unexpected turn. Remember His love when disappointment comes. Remember His love that sacrificed His own Son so that we might live eternally. Remember His love that provides. Remember His love that extends grace and mercy when it could have been otherwise. Remember His love that remains when others walk away. His compassion has not ended. His love has not failed. His mercy has not been exhausted. Remember and rest in His everlasting love. May you rest in the unchanging compassion of Adonai this week. May His steadfast love quiet every fear, strengthen every weak place, and remind you that you are held securely in His care. May you remember His faithfulness in every season — and may that remembrance restore your hope, renew your strength, and anchor your heart in His everlasting love.

Remember — The Grace of Adonai Is Not Exhausted “But in my mind I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope — that the grace of Adonai is not exhausted, that His compassion has not ended. On the contrary, they are new every morning! How great your faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:21–23 (CJB) In the third chapter of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah expresses deep sorrow over the condition of Jerusalem and Judah. What began as national pain became intensely personal as he witnessed the consequences of the people’s disobedience. They were beaten down, discouraged, and surrounded by turmoil. Yet amid the devastation, Jeremiah made a powerful choice: Jeremiah remembered. He remembered that they were not consumed. He remembered the character of God. He remembered that compassion had not run dry. And in remembering, hope was reborn. The grace of God kept them in the midst of suffering, and Jeremiah trusted that the same God would hear their cries and ultimately deliver His people. This same unending grace is available to us today. It grants the salvation we could never earn (Ephesians 2:8–9). It strengthens us in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). It invites us to approach God boldly in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). God’s unfailing and all-encompassing grace enables us to rise after we fall, finish what we started, restore what has been broken, and walk confidently in the plan He has prepared for our lives (1 Peter 5:10; Ephesians 2:10). So whatever season you find yourself in, remember: If you feel behind in what God has called you to do… there’s grace for that. If it is past time to make amends… there’s grace for that. If forgiveness feels difficult… there’s grace for that. If you have not yet begun a relationship with Jesus Christ, there is still time… there is grace for that. Whatever concerns you, there is grace for that. As we move through this week and the days ahead, hold firmly to this truth: as long as seedtime and harvest remain, the grace of God is continually flowing into every area of our lives. This is where our hope rests.