*But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy. Psalm 68:3 (NLT)* Depending upon the translation the words rejoice and be glad appear in the same verse about 30 times in the Bible. We should be reminded from time to time, especially when we are in trouble or when we see trouble all around us that we are to be people of rejoicing and gladness. Remember who is the source of our rejoicing and gladness. This world cannot provide lasting joy. Through Nehemiah we learn that **“the joy of the LORD is our strength.”** The Hebrew language has more words for joy and rejoicing than any other. There are thirteen Hebrew roots, found in twenty-seven different words used for some aspect of joy or joyful participation in worship. The believer finds joy and delight in God and in His Word. Here are four reasons why we should rejoice and be glad. We rejoice and we are glad because of the great things that God has done. *“I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”* Psalm 9:1–2 (NIV) David praises God without reservation. It is with his whole heart. If we are to praise God acceptably, we must praise him in sincerity, with our hearts and not only with our lips. The Hebrew word for glad means to have joy or merriment, but the word for rejoice means exultation. The believer sees the wonders that He has done and gives the glory to God. We rejoice and we are glad because God has brought us his salvation. *‘In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”’* Isaiah 25:9 (NIV) No one who puts their trust in God for salvation will ever be disappointed. If we had no other reason than our salvation, we should never stop rejoicing and being glad. Although it may at first seem counterintuitive, we are called to rejoice and be glad in times of testing and trouble. *“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”* Matthew 5:11–12 (NIV) It is not enough to be patient and content under these sufferings as under common afflictions, but we rejoice because the honor and privilege of suffering for Christ is much greater than the pain or shame of it. We rejoice and we are glad because one day we will see him face to face. “*Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself.”* Revelation 19:7 (NLT) In the Bible, marriage is often used to describe our relationship to God. In the Old Testament Israel is pictured, as in Hosea, as the unfaithful wife of Yahweh who is destined to be restored in the future kingdom. In the New Testament, marriage is also used to describe the relationship between Christ and the church. There are many other causes to rejoice and be glad in God and it is a good thing to take the time, not only to consider the reason, but also to actually rejoice and be glad.