John Calvin Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:16

"Rejoice always;" — 1 Thessalonians 5:16 (ASV)

Rejoice always. I refer this to moderation of spirit, when the mind maintains calmness in adversity and does not indulge in grief. I accordingly connect these three things: to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks to God in all things. For when he recommends constant praying, he points out the way of rejoicing perpetually, for through this we ask God for relief from all our distresses. Similarly, in Philippians 4:4, having said,

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known to all. Be not anxious as to anything. The Lord is at hand.

He afterwards points out the means of this—

but in every prayer let your requests be made known to God, with giving of thanks.

In that passage, as we see, he presents as a source of joy a calm and composed mind that is not unduly disturbed by injuries or adversities. But so that we are not overcome by grief, sorrow, anxiety, and fear, he tells us to rest in the providence of God.

And as doubts frequently arise as to whether God cares for us, he also prescribes the remedy: that by prayer we unload our anxieties, so to speak, into His bosom, as David commands us to do in Psalm 37:5 and Psalm 55:22, and Peter also, after his example (1 Peter 5:7).

However, since we are often too hasty in our desires, he places a restraint on them—that, while we desire what we need, we at the same time do not cease to give thanks.

He observes, here, almost the same order, though in fewer words. For, in the first place, he would have us hold God’s benefits in such esteem that their recognition and meditation on them will overcome all sorrow. And, unquestionably, if we consider what Christ has conferred on us, there will be no bitterness of grief so intense that it cannot be alleviated and give way to spiritual joy.

For if this joy does not reign in us, the kingdom of God is at the same time banished from us, or we from it. And that person is very ungrateful to God who does not value the righteousness of Christ and the hope of eternal life so highly as to rejoice in the midst of sorrow.

However, since our minds are easily dispirited until they yield to impatience, we must observe the remedy that he adds immediately afterwards.

For when we are cast down and laid low, we are lifted up again by prayers, because we lay on God what burdened us.

However, since there are every day, indeed every moment, many things that may disturb our peace and mar our joy, he therefore tells us to pray without ceasing.

Now, concerning this constancy in prayer, we have spoken elsewhere. Thanksgiving, as I have said, is added as a limitation. For many pray in such a way that they simultaneously murmur against God and become distressed if He does not immediately grant their wishes.

But, on the contrary, it is fitting that our desires should be restrained in such a way that, content with what is given to us, we always mingle thanksgiving with our desires. We may lawfully, it is true, ask, indeed, sigh and lament, but it must be in such a way that the will of God is more acceptable to us than our own.