Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 Berean Bible
What exactly does this “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” mean to us? It says to me, I come to God believing He is my rewarder which moves me into His grace, that the bible says is rich and abounding. This grace is sufficient for any and every circumstance I’m facing. In this place I possess an unshakeable hope that I shall see the goodness of God manifested to me. This hope is full of rejoicing.
This is from the Discovery Bible Word Study notes on this word “rejoice”
2744 kauxáomai – properly, living with "head up high," boasting from a particular vantage point – i.e. the base of operation to deal with a matter. Only the context shows whether this root (kaux-) refers to Holy Spirit-produced boasting (Spirit-confidence) or vain boasting (self-confidence).
[2744 (kauxaomai) likely comes from the root, auxēn ("neck"), i.e. what holds the head up high (upright); figuratively, it refers to living with God-given confidence.
Faith should always move us into His grace. Standing in that grace gives us a “base of operation to deal with a matter”. We enter into peace which flows from the we hold. Hope which we rejoice or boast about. Read Romans 5:1 from the Phillips Translation ~ Since then it is by faith that we are justified, let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have confidently entered into this new relationship of grace, and here we take our stand, in happy certainty of the glorious things he has for us in the future. This doesn’t mean of course, that we have only a hope of future joys ~ we can be full of joy here and now even in our trials and troubles....
David (McGrew) asks the question: when the circumstances dominate your emotions negatively, ‘where is faith?’. Without that unshakeable trust in our Father, there is no peace, no hope (expectation), no joy and certainly no rejoicing or boasting in God.
I understand the times we just don’t feel like boasting in God but I’m also aware that ‘rejoicing’ is the greatest expression of our faith and hope that can be seen. It isn’t about ‘happy’. It’s about our declaration in the midst of trouble. It’s about knowing and declaring our redeemer is great and mighty. It’s about knowing and declaring His love and care, being assured He is working on our behalf. “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord”.
Every circumstance should bring us into a closer encounter with our Father. A drawing near to him for the salvation we need in the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Proverbs decrees - trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not to your own understanding. Our own understanding is limited until the Spirit of Truth is able to reveal truth to us and we are able to be ready and willing to hold the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God. When this comes, we must choose to acknowledge His ways and walk in them to find the life He gives. This is the fear of the Lord. This is departing from your own wisdom, this is a turning away from the evil of self will. We don’t outthink our problems. We bring them captive to the obedience of His word and we ‘boast’ in the greatness and glory of our God.