Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:19-24 ESV

I think it’s hard to rejoice and be glad.

Mainly because there are times I recall when it was hard to get out of bed in the morning. Times when it was hard to breathe from grief. Times when all motivation seemed to be a million miles away.

So, if I believe that everyday is the day that the LORD has made, how can I rejoice and be glad in them (even when I am clearly not glad)? I mean, the Psalm could’ve been written by David who also experienced seasons of depression. Or it could have been written during the Babylonian Captivity. How is it then I can rejoice when it is hard to?

If we ponder for even a moment, I think we could discover that even when it feels like it’s impossible to “rejoice and be glad” that we can.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 ESV

I think being glad and rejoicing come from a sense of purpose. If I begin to understand that there is a purpose behind what I do, my life, and the hard stuff that happens. That the God of eternity is reminding me that this is not my home, could change how I view “this day”. Its a mindset of eternity.

This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

Psalm 118:23 ESV

Whatever God does has a greater purpose to accomplish. It’s a mindset of value.

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Psalm 118:22 ESV

This is a picture of Christ. God’s gift to us. He was rejected, He was bruised, He came that we might go. Now he is the cornerstone on which we can build our lives. All done for him is worth it.

I thank you because you have answered me and have become my salvation.

Psalm 118:21 ESV

Christ has become our salvation. There was no way we could have saved ourselves, HE became for us! What a picture of love. A mindset of faith.

This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

Psalm 118:20 ESV

Again, another picture of Christ. He is the door (gate). We become righteous through Christ. There’s no need to worry if we get life figured out and everything be hunky dory. The reality is, is that it won’t be. And God let us off the hook to be perfect, giving us Christ to be perfect in our stead. A mindset of grace.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.

Psalm 118:19 ESV

Christ’s perfection, makes me perfect in the eyes of God. Christ’s righteousness is freely given to me, through no effort of my own. I’ve been let off the hook, loved, and given a purpose. All of those are plenty of reasons to rejoice and be thankful. A mindset of thankfulness.

Even when it’s hard to get up in the morning. Even when motivation has left again. If the only thing I can thank God for is salvation. Then that is how I can rejoice and be glad in the days when it’s hard.