Have you ever sat to rest and thoughts of a current challenge, concern or hardship were invaded by thoughts of God’s goodness, faithfulness and power? It’s been happening to me a lot lately. Something inside of us is intrigued when reminded of the realities of God’s nature. The energy stirred by thoughts of our Creator and King’s steadfast love, kindness, might and consistency eventually comes out of my body in some way – tears, raised hands, audible words of gratitude, a dance, a song of praise – rejoicing with resolve to trust and obey.

I admit the rejoicing gets a little embarrassing and seems random at times. I know these thoughts preceding rejoicing are certainly not random; what I feel compelled to do in response often seems to be. The embarrassment is definitely a fear response, an internal attempt to protect myself. Oddly enough, embarrassment also centers self which is the opposite aim of the invading thoughts of God that are clearly a grace to center the Holy One, instead of me or my circumstances. The Holy Spirit is empowering us to obey the Word of God’s command to “rejoice in the Lord always!” (Philippians 4:4). In these precious moments, faith and hope are activated, joy is restored, and we are delivered from our desperate state, whether or not our circumstances change.
It’s like the Holy Spirit acknowledges our despair, exhaustion, fear, frustration, confusion, etc. (Psalm 34), and the strength of the Master of the Universe is made perfect right there in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). An accompanying reality tough for me to come to grips with is that we are still weak after God shows up. God’s strength and our weakness, God’s joy and our despair seem to be held in this redemptive tension that occasionally makes me very uncomfortable yet is still so good. We are being made perfect, and God shows up in all perfection — Holiness and Glory…AWEsomeness. Hallelujah! This is joy. God’s presence. (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬)

—Anyah E. R. White