Celebration

Today we’re talking about celebration—and not just the kind with balloons and cake (though I’m not against those either!). We’re talking about learning to celebrate the ordinary moments, the quiet wins, and the everyday blessings that God gives us.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Now, that verse isn’t just about the “big” days—it’s about this day. The one you might think is too routine, too busy, or too ordinary. It’s about choosing to find joy in what’s right in front of you. Maybe your coffee turned out perfect this morning, or maybe your kids actually got in the car on time—hey, that’s celebration-worthy!

God wants us to live with hearts that notice and rejoice. So, today, let’s talk about what it means to celebrate God’s goodness, even in the simple stuff. Because joy doesn’t have to wait for a special occasion—it can show up right where you are.

The joy of the Lord is our strength, and that is something to celebrate and think on every day.

We can have our blinders on and our heads down, just pushing through because we need to or because we have to. When our heads are down, we are missing what God has for us.

Let’s look up, look out, and keep our eyes and hearts open to all that the Lord has done and will do.

The joy and the strength He gives us every day are worth praising and celebrating. God will see you through—praise Him for it.

Celebrations and festivals in the Bible used to last for days to weeks, and each festival reminded the people of what God did for them throughout the years. Some of these are still happening today, and we even honor them in our churches.

These were all celebrated multiple times a year or at least every seven years to mark special, life-changing events that God brought His people through.

So, as you think back on what God has done for you, celebrate it and praise the Lord for the changes He has made in your life—and do it as often as you can.

When we were little, and even when our kids were little, we celebrated every new thing.

Riding bikes, tying shoes, the first day of kindergarten, high school graduation, birthdays, and so on.

But then after that, we don’t celebrate much. But we should.

So often on TV shows, I’ve seen the most ridiculous things celebrated, and I wonder why—but as I sit here, I wonder… why not? It makes life fun just to celebrate, and sometimes we need to celebrate the smallest things along with the big ones.

So today, celebrate the small things—like making it to work on time, not spilling anything on yourself, or getting every email answered.

Find the joy.

You know, celebration looks different for everyone. Some people throw parties, others bake cookies, and some of us—well, we celebrate with a good nap. But true celebration isn’t just about the “what”; it’s about the why.

When we take time to celebrate, we’re reminding our hearts of God’s faithfulness. We’re saying, “Hey, look what He’s done!” It shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s present—from frustration to gratitude.

Even in small victories—finishing a project, overcoming a tough day, or just making it through a hard week—God is there, worthy of our praise. So maybe today’s the day to turn up the music, smile a little bigger, and thank God for how far He’s brought you.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Something I celebrate is clarity.

Sometimes I can be walking around so unsure and uncertain that when I finally get clarity, I feel a huge relief—like I’m no longer walking in quicksand.

I literally sit there for a minute, just soaking in the moment of clear-headedness because it was needed, and I didn’t want to just move past it—I wanted to thank God for it.

If you feel like you are walking heavy today, ask the Lord to give you some clarity so that you can move with more ease. And when you get it, celebrate it and thank the Lord for bringing you that clarity.

A BIG celebration is salvation. In the Bible, there is the story of the prodigal son who comes home, and the father’s celebration was given because the lost had returned.

When we are in church, we celebrate these moments by clapping, and every time I wonder—is our celebration enough? The Bible tells us that in heaven, all celebrate when a new life comes to Christ, and I’m sure they aren’t all just standing around clapping. I picture clapping, praising the Lord, singing, and shouting with joy—just a loud and joyous celebration.

I know when my kids became saved and then decided to be baptized, I was so overfilled with joy and happiness all I could do was cry and praise the Lord—and maybe the joy in my heart was enough because inside I was jumping and rejoicing.

Let’s celebrate new lives in Christ in whatever way we want to—but make sure all of it goes to praising the Lord.

There’s always something to celebrate. Even if life’s been tough lately, the fact that you’re still standing, still believing, still showing up—that’s worth rejoicing over.

God doesn’t just want us to endure life—He wants us to enjoy it. He designed joy as a form of strength. When we celebrate, it realigns our perspective. It tells our hearts, “God’s still good, even when life is hard.”

So go ahead—laugh more, sing a little louder, be thankful for the little things. Because celebration reminds us that every day is a gift, and our joy is one of the best ways to honor the Giver.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

When we go through the storms of life, we come out on the other side overjoyed that we made it through. We know at that point that we didn’t just endure but made it through because of the work of the Lord in our lives.

I had to tell someone something hard recently, and I do not enjoy those conversations, but I know at the end of it, God had given me the words to say—so I praised Him for that.

Sometimes, even when the outcome is not what we want, we still need to find joy in the fact that God was with us the whole time.

So, celebrate those times, make note of them, and keep them close to your heart so you can remember how good our God is.

“Recalling God’s goodness and mercy can bring joy during the most challenging moments.” – Jennifer Tyler

Sometimes I write with ease, and I absolutely feel like the Lord is with me because it comes easy. Then there are writings that are hard and have me examining my own heart and life. Those words don’t come as easily, and I often debate whether to pick something else.

Today was one of those times. For me, I see the joy in things, but I struggle to celebrate. I can put celebrations up for anyone else but myself sometimes. I think that’s because I’m walking in it.

So, as I am here and encourage you to celebrate as much as you can, know that God is telling me to do the same.

Friends, we need to look at things through a lens of joy—but in a realistic way—and find God in everything. He is in every moment, so let’s not miss those and let’s be filled with the joy of the Lord.

Let’s remember Psalm 118:24— “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Celebration isn’t reserved for the mountaintops—it’s meant for the daily climb, too. It’s that deep, settled joy that says, “God, I see You in this moment.”

So, whatever your day looks like—big, small, or somewhere in between—find your reason to celebrate. God is in the details, and there’s always something to be thankful for.

Every day may not be perfect, but every day is worth celebrating when you walk it with God.