We may be pressed, but we are not crushed. We may be persecuted, but we are never abandoned. We may be struck down, but we will not be destroyed. I encourage you, as Jesus and Paul and all the cloud of witnesses from Hebrews do - keep pressing! In this world you will have troubles, but Jesus overcame the world. We celebrate the fact that, though we struggle, Jesus has made a way to press on. We think of persecutions as troubles that only happen in third world countries and heathen nations. Please be prepared for persecution to arise any time that you choose to take a stand for God's Truth. Just remember, this world is not our home. We cannot love this world, or the comfort of our lives more than God. Our home is in heaven, and the kingdom is ours!

If we look up the word “rejoice” in the dictionary, we find that it means: “to feel or express great joy or happiness.” It is a word that we can easily find in the Bible, mainly in the book of Psalms. David was one of the main writers of this book. The Psalms are not just writing but songs that David and others composed in different moments of their lives.

David did not have an easy life. He was born into a family that overlooked him because he was the youngest member. He had to fight in many battles. The king sought to kill him. Later, David carried the burden of the leadership of a people. But if David understood anything, it was that joy and gladness needed to come from the roots of his life, not only from the fruit of his faith.

That is, true rejoicing must come from knowing and accepting the profound work that God has done in us, a work of eternal salvation. It is not a matter of rejoicing in the blessings we receive or the favorable situations we experience but in the blessed assurance that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

This is why we can see people who, upon knowing the work of Jesus Christ, receive this rejoicing in their hearts in any country or place. That joy is not only a feeling but a root, a deep foundation that is established in the soul.

None of us are exempt from difficult circumstances all our lives. Sometimes we see that everything gets dark, that a situation is not in our favor, and we tend to think that we will not be able to endure it. But that is when we can search our hearts and take hold of the deep roots of our faith that will keep us steady amid the storm.

By spending time reading the Bible, we can learn about Jesus’ character and strengthen our faith. We can know that our Lord does not change, that He has promised to be on our side, that He is our shield and our refuge, and that He will fulfill everything we read about Him. The joy that comes from knowing these truths of God is our strength; that joy is our foundation.

Joy rooted in our confidence in God can be felt in all circumstances; it is not a fleeting emotion.

Lord, let us recognize Your powerful and eternal work in our life so Your joy may be the foundation that keeps our hearts firm in You at every moment.