Active voice! Just because God says he will give us joy, it doesn't mean we should be sitting back waiting for it. Rejoicing is to BE glad. Rejoicing is a choice for those who are followers of Christ. Our rejoicing should not be because of our circumstances, it should be because of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. If that isn't enough to rejoice about then I am being far too self-centered. If I am feeling sorry for myself, disappointed in myself or my life, unhappy with my circumstances or people, then I am focusing too much on my flesh and what it wants instead of my God and what He has done.
Of course, life isn't perfect, so there will sometimes be moments that we don't feel like rejoicing. Rejoicing isn't about how we feel. It is possible to rejoice without feeling happy about it! Rejoicing is an action. No, I am not happy that my husband died, and of course I mourn and have sadness about it and miss him. However, I have a choice to make. I can choose to let those feelings overwhelm me and dictate my life to the point where I am non-functioning. Or I can feel those emotions, let myself ride the waves I need to ride, and determine to remind myself of the truth that exists beyond my feelings: That God knows what is happening, He cares, and things can and will change.
When I am feeling overwhelmed with life, I find that what helps is taking a few moments to myself, closing my eyes, and doing a small twist on a relaxation technique: Breathe in and say in my mind "I love you Jesus", hold my breath and again - "I love you Jesus", and then release while again thinking "I love you Jesus". I do this several times while focusing on that ONE fact, which supersedes all of the things that are trying to overwhelm me and take over my mind.
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