“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:4–7 (NIV)

“Rejoice in the Lord always”? This statement can be hard for many people to understand because, to be quite frank, the world is full of disaster—we see it all around us. There’s so much unrest and so little peace.

Many people struggle with depression and anxiety that stem from what’s happening in the world. I know, because I once did too. I let the darkness of this world hold me down. It was like a blanket thrown over me, keeping me from seeing the light— the joy and peace—found in Jesus.

The truth is, the world around us is dark, and it will tear you down if you let it. We live in a world that is run by the prince of darkness. The devil’s goal is to keep you from accepting the light of Jesus. He wants you to live in rebellion against God—the One who freely gives joy and peace.

But while the world continues to spin in chaos, we don’t have to stand in the darkness. When you believe in and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have the power of God within you—and that changes everything. You now have a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace, who is God Himself. The power of God within you empowers you to break free from all the bondage the world tries to throw at you. You can live in the joy and peace that God has always intended for you since the very beginning.

Prayer:

God, I thank You for today. I thank You for everything You have done. Lord, I boldly come to Your throne room and ask for a deeper understanding of what it means to have joy and peace in You. God, I love You and I praise You. In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.