How do we rejoice during hard times? The key is to see from God’s perspective. Seeing from God’s perspective will help us rejoice and think positive God thoughts.

Sometimes the hardest person to love can be the person you love the most. Because you love them so much, they can hurt you the most.

Someone close to me had a history of constantly hurting me through making the same mistakes again and again. As time went by, things did get better, but not completely good.

I struggled with seeing them from their past mistakes. My unforgiveness was creating bitterness in my heart. I longed to love them from a pure heart, but it seemed far from possible. It was in that moment that I came to God and asked Him to help me see this person as He sees them. God immediately showed me the potential this person had and who He made this person to be. This gave me the capability to speak life to this person and build them up.

I was then led to Philippians 4:8 which further helped me to love this person and think positively:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

I could choose to dwell in their flaws and think of their previous mistakes, but what good does that do to me? Dwelling on bad thoughts only made it harder for me to love this person and rejoice. As I chose to think of good things and what God had in store for them, I found forgiveness and love flowing through my heart.

God also reminded me that He doesn’t hold my past against me, so how could I hold someone else against their mistakes? Matthew 18 speaks of a parable of a man who was forgiven a huge debt but did not forgive his servant’s debt. Matthew 18:32-33 says, “Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’”

Let us continue to practice thinking positive and praiseworthy thoughts daily. The moment a negative thought comes to mind, take captive of it and make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Maybe your issue isn’t with a certain person but with your circumstances. We are still called to rejoice even when our circumstances are hard. 1 Thess 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

God commands us to rejoice always—not sometimes or in certain conditions, but always. 

Even if we cannot come up with anything to give thanks for, we can give thanks for who God is. God is good not because of our circumstances, but because He is good. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This verse reminds us that God is good because His agenda is always to bless those who love Him.

Will you take time each day to rejoice and fix your mind on praiseworthy things? Will you make the commitment to no longer tolerate a negative thought? 

Thinking negatively does no good for you, so why do it? God has a beautiful future ahead of you. Trust Him and keep going. So remember, think positive God thoughts.

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Prayer: Jesus, help me to think praiseworthy thoughts and to remember your great love for me.

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