Old and Joyful – Really?

Joy is real.

You would expect to find an article about joy on a page for children or youth, wouldn’t you? Somehow, the idea prevails that joy belongs mainly to the young. Really? Why should we leave joy to the younger generation and – if I may describe it this way – head downhill, depressed, and growing older without gladness? Does joy evaporate after the age of fifty?

When Paul takes his quill and appeals to people to rejoice, he is not addressing a youth group in Philippi, but the entire congregation.

Here are his words: “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4a). And what is remarkable is this: these words appear in one of his prison letters. Paul is incarcerated in Rome, and yet he calls his readers to be joyful! He wants them – and that includes us – to rejoice in every situation, regardless of their circumstances. And in case anyone thinks they may have misunderstood him, Paul adds once more: “Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4b).

I’m supposed to rejoice?

• I wear glasses because my vision is failing.
• My ears need hearing aids just so I can understand what people are saying.
• I depend on my dentures to eat.
• I can only get around with a walker.
• When I wake up in the morning, I no longer ask, “What hurts?” Rather, I ask, “What actually doesn’t hurt today?”
• My calendar is filled – not with invitations – but with medical appointments.

And often there’s nothing left but a long, deep sigh.

Life is tough, and the Bible does not hide this reality. It too speaks openly about the challenges of aging. King Solomon describes this season and calls it “the evil days” – days that bring us no pleasure (Ecclesiastes 12:1-8).

It is possible to become so consumed by these negative things that we eventually gets stuck in a rut. Negativity then takes over and begins to control our lives, making them miserable – not only for ourselves, but also for those closest to us.

That is precisely why the call to rejoice is so important. And notice this: it is repeated in the very same verse.

My wife Doreen and I were recently driving through unfamiliar territory. It brought to mind days long gone – when you used to keep a road map in the car. Usually, I was at the wheel while she sat beside me, telling me where to turn.

Those days are history. The map has been replaced by a navigation system. Now I hear a different voice: “In 150 meters, please turn left.” Recently, it gave a very specific instruction: “Please make a U-turn at the earliest opportunity.” I was no longer on the right route. I could have kept going, but it would not have been in my best interest. So we accepted the correction, turned around, and soon found ourselves – thankfully – back on the right road toward our destination.

The Apostle’s words sound a bit like that to me. To people who have lost their joy and can see nothing but life’s difficulties, he calls out – almost like a GPS voice: “Please make a U-turn!” Or, in his own words: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Not about the roadway – but about the attitude of the heart. One might say it is a route recalculation.

When we look at this verse closely, we quickly notice that Paul does not simply say, “Rejoice.” He says, “Rejoice in the Lord.” The addition of these three words make all the difference. Why does he say this? What is he emphasizing?

I enjoy comparing various translations – it helps us understand the text more fully and sheds additional light on it.

Listen to how other translations render this verse:

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (NLT)

“Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful.” (NIRV)

“May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice! ” (GNT)

Our joy is not rooted first and foremost in our circumstances. It is not dependent on what is happening around us; it is not situation-dependent. Our joy does not consist in what we have, but in Whom we have – the Lord Jesus Christ.

To rejoice “in the Lord” means that our joy is tied to Him. It is personal. He himself is the fountain of our joy. And so we turn our focus away from ourselves – away from our physical limitations, loneliness, and insecurity – and fix our eyes on Jesus Christ.

• He is the same – yesterday, today, and forever.
• He is always with us and beside us.
• He carries us – even in the darkest hours of life.
• He is faithful.
• He is trustworthy.

We can expand this thought by counting the many blessings we have received. As we do so, it becomes obvious that our joy is grounded in what Christ has done for us:

• Our redemption – the forgiveness of our sins
• Reconciliation with God
• A relationship with our heavenly Father
• God’s presence in our limitations
• The assurance of eternal life
• The hope of a world free of suffering and disabilities
• God’s promises to help us
• The Word of God with its divine comfort
• The privilege and power of prayer
• Past experiences of God’s faithfulness
• God’s leading in our lives
• And many more blessings besides

The GPS directed us: “Please make a U-turn.” Perhaps that same challenge applies here. Whoever focuses only on the losses that come with aging – on weakness, unanswered questions and limitations – may easily spend the rest of their life without joy.

“Please make a U-turn” means: rethink. Change your course. Allow yourself to be reoriented today. Fix your eyes on Christ. You too can rejoice “in the Lord.” And then tell others about this joy – it is contagious.

Joy is not age-dependent – it is God-dependent.

Rejoice!

“Be full of joy in the Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy.” (NCV)

Harry Semenjuk
Wetaskiwin, AB