Aim For Joy! (by Cathe Laurie)

“Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 KJV).

How are those New Year resolutions going? At the beginning of the year, we promised ourselves we’d be better people. We’d exercise more, eat less, and finally stop doom-scrolling social media. But by this time, our treadmills have gathered dust, our fridges are stocked with bagel bites, and our thumbs cramp from scrolling.

So let me offer you a revised resolution that’s both profound and mercifully simple: “Rejoice evermore.”  The word evermore grew from the Old English phrase æfre ma, which means “for all future time.”

“Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 KJV). Sounds nice, right? Who doesn’t want to rejoice? But before you roll your eyes and mutter easy for you to say, consider this: Paul wrote these words to a group of Christians being persecuted for their faith. Not persecuted as in, “I wasn’t invited to her party,” but rather, “people might kill us for following Jesus.” 

And yet, Paul tells them to rejoice—always. Evermore.

Here’s the thing about Paul’s version of joy: It has absolutely nothing to do with your circumstances. Paul isn’t telling you to throw a party when life punches you in the face. Rather, he’s explaining that joy isn’t tied to what’s happening around you—it’s tied to what’s happening inside you.

Joy comes from a deep trust in God’s goodness. The Thessalonians could rejoice because they believed that even in their darkest moments, God was still in control, loving them and working for their ultimate good.

That’s why Paul doesn’t stop at “rejoice evermore.” In 1 Thessalonians 5:17–18, He follows it with: “Pray without ceasing” (talk to God constantly) and “Give thanks in all circumstances” (even when you forgot the oven and the pizza rolls got burnt).

Joy, prayer, and gratitude are like the holy trinity of spiritual, mental, and emotional resilience. They feed into each other, and together, they anchor you when life feels like it’s spinning out of control.

I’ll be honest: “Rejoice evermore” sounds impossible. But here’s the secret: Joy isn’t about slapping on a fake smile and pretending everything’s fine. It’s about shifting your focus.

1. Start Small. Find joy in the little things—a good cup of coffee, your kid’s laugh, or, if you’re anything like our Founding Father John Adams, a random shrub. (Yes, really!) 

2. Stay Connected. Pray like you’re on a constant text thread with God. Short, frequent messages work just fine! And don’t forget to watch and listen for His replies. He is always responding, and let’s not let our busy lives get in the way of hearing His voice and seeing Him move.

3. Be Grateful. No, you don’t have to love your circumstances. But you can always find something to thank God for, even if it’s just the way that first hot cup of coffee in the morning tastes!

So, here’s your real New Year’s challenge as we enter into February: Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for joy. Start with a little gratitude and prayer and see what happens. If Paul could rejoice in the middle of persecution and John Adams could rejoice over a bush, we can find a little joy in 2025!

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Cathe Laurie is the founder and director of the Virtue women’s ministry. She is also a featured speaker on The Virtue Podcast, at Harvest events, and the author of As I See It. You can find her weekly articles here on harvest.org.