“Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Notice Paul doesn’t say “rejoice when life is easy” or “rejoice after your trials end”—he calls us to find joy in Christ even during our darkest moments.
This isn’t naive optimism. Paul wrote these words from prison, facing possible execution. Yet he had discovered what Lehi taught—that we exist “that [we] might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). This joy isn’t dependent on circumstances but on our connection to Christ.
Think about the contrast between happiness and joy. Happiness often depends on what’s happening to us. Joy, especially the kind Paul describes, flows from who we’re becoming in Christ. It’s possible to experience deep joy even while facing significant challenges.
When Paul says “always,” he’s teaching us that Christ-centered joy can coexist with other emotions. We can face fierce grief while maintaining meaningful joy in Christ’s promises. We can weather weary uncertainty while rejoicing in His resolute love. We can process persistent pain while finding freedom in His healing power.
I’ve experienced this principle during my own conversion journey. Even when facing family opposition to my baptism, I found unexpected joy in my growing relationship with Christ. That joy didn’t eliminate the challenge—it transformed how I experienced it.
I testify that joy in Christ is a gift available to all who turn to Him. As we center our lives on the Savior, we discover that true joy persists not despite our challenges, but often because of how those challenges draw us closer to Him.
Elder Linder 