Be Of Good Cheer

The Lord has commanded us to be of good cheer. This isn't a recommendation, or advice, or some kind of powerless self help drivel. This is a commandment of the Lord. We are to be of good cheer. But what is good cheer and how does it differ from bad cheer? First, good cheer is not just being blindly chipper or willfully ignorant of the sometimes harsh realities of life. Being of good cheer isn't just about screaming I feel happy I feel happy I feel happy when your house is burning down. Being of good cheer is also a choice that we make and had little to nothing to do with our external circumstances. Being of good cheer means facing what's in front of us with a clear head towards what's really happening, but also with a firm hope that even if earth and hell combine against us, it will be for our good. As Paul has said, being of good cheer  means "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;" (1 Corinthians 4:8-9). We can be troubled on every side and yet choose to not be distressed but rather to be of good cheer that eventually we will overcome our troubles. We can be perplexed but choose to be of good cheer rather than to despair. We can experience persecution and choose to be of good cheer and believe that God has not forsaken us but will prepare a way for our escape or will open up unto us the mysteries of Heaven so that we may understand the purpose of our persecutions. We can get knocked down but we can be of good cheer and know that we will not be destroyed. Being of good cheer isn't about pretending to be happy when everything is terrible. Being of good cheer is about acknowledging our situation while at the same time looking beyond it with hope and patience.