Rejoice Today

Psalm 118:24 (NRSVUE)
This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

You ever notice how easy it is to wish a day away? “Can this day just be over already?” We’ve all thought it. We’ve all said it. Psalm 118:24 pulls us back and reminds us—this day, right here, right now, is one God intentionally made. Not by accident. Not as filler between “better” days. He handcrafted this one too.

Rejoicing doesn’t mean pretending everything’s awesome. It means we make the decision to look for God’s goodness even when things aren’t. It’s saying, “I don’t love everything happening right now, but I’m still going to thank God for being here with me in it.” Joy isn’t denial. Joy is direction. It’s choosing to face the day with faith instead of frustration.

The Hebrew word for “rejoice” used in this verse is gil, which means to spin around with joy, to exult, to celebrate. It’s not a quiet, polite kind of joy. It’s expressive, alive, full-body gratitude. It’s active. It’s movement. It’s not waiting around for life to be perfect. It’s finding joy in the middle of what is. That means we can “rejoice and be glad” even when things feel ordinary or uncertain, because God’s presence transforms ordinary into holy.

My prayer is that you pause and choose joy today. Not forced positivity. Real joy. The kind that flows from knowing God’s got you covered. Take a breath. Look around. There’s something good in this day because God is in it, and you get to be a part of it. That alone is worth celebrating.