Rejoice always
Throughout hardships, the HPU family remains joyful
by Coby Sauce, MBA '14 | Artwork by Victoria Henry
At first glance, Howard Payne University has looked like much of the rest of the world throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are masking up, sanitizing everything and keeping our distance as much as possible. But if one were to take a closer look at HPU, he or she might notice something different about the university.
It’s clear during our Chapel services, in the classrooms, on the playing fields and in our offices. There is a light shining brightly on campus and in the hearts of our people. It’s joy – a soul-encompassing, deeper-than-happiness, God-given belief that allows Christians to live on this Earth while also looking forward to our Heavenly home.
The HPU family has not been immune to the trials, the sickness or the heartaches that have plagued the world throughout the last year.
So why do we remain full of joy?
Because the Bible commands us to rejoice
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God instructs His people to be joyful. It’s not optional – it’s a commandment. Consider these verses:
“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven …” (Matthew 5:12a, ESV).
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV).
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4, ESV).
Still other mentions of joy in the Bible go as far as to command singing for joy (Psalm 67:4) and leaping for joy (Luke 6:23).
God’s expectations for us are clear.
Because God enables us to be joyful
Joy is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (15:5, ESV).
We are not able to be joyful on our own. But because God is so great, what He commands of us, He also makes possible. The Book of Acts discusses Jesus’ disciples being equipped for their role in preaching Christ to the nations. Chapter 13 concludes, “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (v. 52, ESV).
The Holy Spirit is our Helper (John 14:26), which enables us to have a deep-rooted attitude of joyfulness despite any current circumstances.
Because we are followers of Christ
HPU is comprised of people who, individually and collectively, love, worship and serve the Lord. As followers of Christ, we believe Jesus is who He says he is – the Son of God – and that He did what the Bible says He did – died on the cross, conquering sin and death, so that we might have everlasting life.
And if we truly believe that, we simply cannot help but be joyful.
There is a light shining brightly on campus and in the hearts of our people.
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