What does it mean to rejoice always (1 Thessalonians 5:16)?

from the old testament

• In Nehemiah 8:9-10, many Jewish exiles returning to Jerusalem from Babylon cried when they heard the law read. But Nehemiah “said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” When we rejoice in the Lord, we are strengthened because we know He is in charge and nothing can thwart His plans.
• Habakkuk 3:17-18 presents joy in the midst of devastation: “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk realized that even during God’s judgment on Judah, he, a loyal servant of God, would rejoice because he trusted in the Lord to fulfill His promises for the nation.

from the new testament

• In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This attitude would be impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22), our knowledge of God’s love for us, and our trust in His promises to us.
• Acts 16:25 describes Paul and Silas singing hymns to God while imprisoned, and their singing was a testimony that led to the jailer’s salvation..
• Matthew 5:11-12 is one of the Beatitudes in which Jesus speaks of rejoicing even amid suffering: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Jesus reminds His followers to keep an eternal perspective concerning suffering. The prophets suffered, Jesus suffered, and believers will undoubtedly suffer, but this should not remove the joy we have in Christ.
• Peter and other apostles experienced the joy of suffering for Christ in Acts 5:41: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” The Pharisees ordered that Peter and some other apostles be beaten for their commitment to “obey[ing] God rather than men” (Acts 5: 29). The renewed life of believers is seen in their rejoicing at suffering for Christ’s sake.
• James 1:2-4 gives believers another reason to rejoice in the Lord: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” God uses suffering to sanctify us, which should make us joyful at the work the Lord is doing in our lives.

implications for today

Who doesn’t like to celebrate? Weddings, birthdays, anniversary parties—these occasions mark important moments when we experience the joy of being surrounded by loved ones. But Christians have reason to rejoice every day–even the days when we lose our job, a loved one dies, or we’re in physical pain– because we are enveloped with Christ’s love at all times. He has promised us an eternity of joy with Him. No circumstance on earth can remove that promise. Parties wind down. Holidays end. Even tragic circumstances pass. But Christ gives our lives lasting purpose and meaning.

As Christians, our joy in Christ is something others should notice and wonder about (Luke 11:33). It’s part of our witness. It provides us with the opportunity to tell others about Christ and His promise of eternal joy for all who believe in Him. The Bible teaches that Christians can rejoice even while suffering because of who the Lord is and because of all He has done and will do for us.