The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“This is the day which the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.”

—Psalm 118:24

Some days are hard to rejoice in. We wake up dreading whatever the day holds and feeling like we don’t have anything to look forward to. Maybe our day is full of illness, a broken–down car, a rebellious child, or a stack of bills we don’t know how we’re going to pay.

But the truth is, we only ever have “this day.” If we trust that the good things are the Lord’s blessing, know that some of the hard things are his teaching and discipline which prepare us for his purpose, and if we believe the rest of the difficult things we face will be turned to good even if they’re the result of sin and evil, then we can rejoice every day.

As we follow the Lord, we rejoice because he can transform it all, no matter how unlikely or how terrible the situation—Joseph, in the pit, in slavery, in the dungeon; Ruth, widowed, a stranger in a strange land with no one to provide for her; Elijah, alone on the run from a bloodthirsty queen; Jesus, betrayed, sentenced unjustly, tortured, and murdered. 

God turned all of this around—brought beauty from ashes, gladness from mourning, and praise from despair.

Rejoicing is an act of trust in the future we know God has promised us. It reminds us of the source of good things, staves off the dread in difficulty, and renews our hope. It changes our attitude and puts our mind back on Christ instead of on our circumstances.

So whether we feel like we’re sinking in the waves or our barns are overflowing, let’s rejoice in this day and put our eyes on Christ.

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