The apostle Paul, writing a letter to the new followers of God who lived in the town of Philippi, included a passage that has become a favorite of mine. Philippians, chapter four, verses four, five, six, and seven.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say unto you, rejoice." I love that verse because it is so crucial for us to focus on things that give us reasons to rejoice. Sadness, discouragement and stress come too easily. We need more rejoicing!

Last week I received an e-mail question from a nurse in Pennsylvania. In it she asked, "Dick, is there any place in the New Testament, or any place in the Bible where it talks about God smiling, laughing, chuckling, telling jokes, really, really being happy?" I wish I could have pointed her to twenty such texts, but unfortunately, there is no verse that says, "And Jesus smiled." However, there is one that talks about Jesus crying. In fact, it's the shortest verse in the Bible, just two words, "Jesus wept." You know why I think that's there? It was news! Like turning on the six o'clock news and hearing them lead with the story, "Jesus wept." It was so abnormal! Everybody knew Him as the one you wanted to be closest to because of his smiles, funny stories, big hugs and happy songs. When God's around, you want to be as close as you can possibly get. That's where joy rubs off.

"Rejoice always! Again, I say to you, rejoice!" the verses read. And Paul goes on, "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which is beyond all human understanding, will guard your heart and mind."

Some days my life is absolutely packed with stress. It is incredibly overwhelming to see what the devil finds to throw at me. But God says, "Tell me about it. And let's be happy together. And my peace will fill you in ways you have never even dreamed."

A Pennsylvania nurse friend told me a very special story a few weeks ago. Amy is a hospice nurse, one who drives around talking to dying friends, holding them in her arms as they breathe their last. One day the patient in her arms was Miss Azalea. Ninety-two years of age, Miss Azalea lived in the inner city where she died single, alone with no family. But not without friends!

When Amy went to the big Baptist church for the funeral, the church was packed with Miss Azalea's friends. The pastor stood up and asked, "Is there anybody here who knew Miss Azalea?" Everybody in the church knew Miss Azalea and called out their love. Then the pastor asked, "Is there anybody here who was her child?" Everybody knew that Miss Azalea had been a childless spinster, but twenty-one people came forward claiming Miss Azalea as "Mom."

The last ones were Crystal and her six-year-old daughter. "Miss Azalea was my Mommy," Crystal said. "I was a prostitute on the streets of this town, and one night when I was 16, I delivered my daughter in a cardboard box in an alley behind a store. I came out to the street that morning to see if I could sell my body to some passing man who would give me just enough money for one more hit of crack. Instead, I felt a little hand on my shoulder, and I looked down into the eyes of Miss Azalea,who said, 'Honey, you want to come to my house?'"

"That morning," Crystal went on, "Miss Azalea wrapped my baby in a real blanket, and took us both to her house, laid us in her bed, fed us her food, loved us with her love. She got me off crack. She got my little baby off crack. She taught me to read. She taught me to write. Today, six years later, I have an Associate of Arts degree from the junior college, and I work as a computer entry technician. I have a life because Miss Azalea knew God and chose me as her daughter."

The whole church cheered! You see, there are no problems bad enough that God's presence cannot turn them around. "Rejoice in the Lord always!"

Do you have troubles? Share them with God. He promises that a peace which is "beyond all human understanding" will overwhelm you, filling your heart and mind with a whole new life. Today!

—Dick Duerksen