Joy—what do you know about it? Do you have it? Is it active in your life? How can it be increased? Joy is such a small, seemingly insignificant little word, can it really matter to those around us if we have it in our lives or not?

Jesus declares, in John chapter 15 verse 11 “these things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full”. Does His joy remain in you? Or do you find yourself a bit like a leaky bucket? When you do experience His joy, would you rate your level at full?

These are some questions that came to my mind as I meditated on joy, rejoicing and in particular “rejoice with those who rejoice”. Is this scripture simply a “nice gesture”? No. It is part of God’s design to supply strength to His body through what every joint supplies (Ephesians 4:16) Learning how to rejoice with those who rejoice will lead to healthier and stronger connections. Jesus’ desire for our joy to remain full is tied in with how we function with the rest of the body. Joy begins with God. It also is influenced by our relationships.

Rejoice with those who rejoice Romans 12:15 Isn’t good news great? What is your initial response when you receive some good news? If you are like me—you want to share it! You want to call someone. Your mind begins to race through the people you know—“Who would or could rejoice with me in this? I need to call Sue or Jim or Sally...” Somehow in the sharing of it, it grows and increases and brings strength to both parties.

Jesus told two stories about people with good news to share in Luke 15. What each story entails is amazing. In the first story, a shepherd had one hundred sheep. As in these days, each sheep was important to the shepherd. He knew them by name, and they knew him. Then one day, for some reason, one of his sheep had become lost. “He left the others in the wilderness and went after that lost one. He found it! What did he do? He lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing! And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.” (Luke 15:5-6)

In the second tale a woman had ten silver drachmas (these were possibly part of a highly prized garland worn by married women). She lost one. She lights a lamp and carefully searches until she finds it. “And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!” (Luke 15:9)

In these two stories we find some principles of rejoicing. First of all, it is the person’s responsibility with the good news to rejoice first! I have met people who wanted everyone else to celebrate for them. But we find the shepherd rejoicing even before he had returned home.

Taking the time to thank the Lord and celebrate in our own heart will “root in” the blessing so that it cannot be stolen.

Another principle we discover in the sharing of good news: Both the man and the woman took the time to call their friends and their neighbors to come and celebrate with them. Both individuals requested their friends and neighbors to “rejoice with me”. Those who had cause to rejoice sent out the word to those around. They were so excited to tell their stories. Many people are hesitant about doing this. They may be afraid that others aren’t interested in their blessings, or that they might be jealous. The man and the woman told their friends and neighbors. We assume they shared them with people that they already had relationship. This principle has two sides. Taking time to let other people know our joys allows others to praise God with us. In these stories, do you think they all came? That they all rejoiced? We don’t know. Revelation 12:11 declares “and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony”. I believe that as we share the blessings of the Lord it will help all involved to grow stronger in their faith and become overcomers.

As leaders we may have instructed our people to call when they are in trouble—but have we also let them know we want to hear their joys? Do we foster a culture where we can share both our sorrows and our joys? As parents, do we inadvertently train our children so they get our attention when things are bad? Or do they know we want to celebrate their successes as well? Do we give a cursory “that’s nice, dear” when they want to show us their current finger painting masterpiece? Or do we celebrate and rejoice with them when they find joy in everyday life?

How do we do take time to celebrate another’s joys? We join with them in the rejoicing. We go to their level of joy. A child’s success in potty training, a teenager’s joy at realizing God helped him study for a test, a timid person stepping out to join the worship team, all call for different responses on the part of the friend, neighbor, parent and pastor who has been called to rejoice along with their friend, neighbor, child or church member. How much more should we rejoice with answered prayer, or victory over temptation?

There is something sad when people have good things happening in their life, but there is no outlet to share that joy. Rejoicing or to give joy to others by rejoicing in their blessings is a gift we can impart to them. Learning to rejoice with others seems like it would be simply a wonderful thing. Most of the time it is. However, as I have studied and examined this instruction, I began to realize it is not as simple as it seems.

We as human beings are a bit complicated. Rejoicing with those that rejoice can bring thoughts of jealousy and covetousness (why did she get to sing that part? Why did they get that new house?) It is difficult to “rejoice with those who rejoice” when we feel slighted or have been praying and waiting for perhaps the very same thing.

Rejoice means to “gladden or give joy to”, to ‘feel joy or great delight”.

Listed below are some thoughts that will help us to grow in our ability to rejoice with those who rejoice.

1. Focus on the person and their blessing.
2. Love them enough to rejoice with them from your heart.
3. Put yourself in their place.
4. Do unto them, what/how you would wish them to do unto you under the same conditions.
5. Take the time to let them savor the situation before changing the subject.
6. Celebrate with them. Take time to explore how the blessing was a reflection of God’s grace, answered prayer etc.
7. Do not immediately switch to a story about yourself.

I believe that as we practice the life-style of rejoicing (rejoice in the Lord always Philippians 4:4) it will be easier for us to rejoice when others are rejoicing. Joy brings strength and safety and beauty to our lives, it is attractive and it causes us to go through deep waters with our heads held high. Let us take the time to rejoice with those who rejoice.

Growing in our ability to rejoice with those who rejoice takes grace and love, especially when things in your life are not the best. This past month in our personal family’s life, my sister Carol was carrying the load that her daughter Patti had to have a hysterectomy (she has no children) due to possible ovarian cancer. This was occurring while we were waiting for our new granddaughter to be born. Carol was so gracious to rejoice with us as Abby Rose joined our family, but I am sure that it was bittersweet for her. She called and rejoiced with us. Fortunately the test results show Patti’s tumor not to be malignant (borderline was the diagnosis). We were able to rejoice with them in this good report.

Written by, Martha Rodman