"We Rejoice" // Storytellers

Last Sunday, we sang “We Rejoice” from the “Stand Firm” project. This energetic tune has been one of our church’s favorite. In fact, as we worked on it, I told the band, if you aren’t dancing when you sing it, you are doing something wrong!

The song started with 1 Peter 4:12-19 as we studied through 1 Peter.

The Scripture

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

At first study of this passage, you focus on a lot of suffering words and feel like the passage is dark or gloomy. But the more you study it, you realize this is an uplifting worship passage. We are to rejoice in our suffering and glorify God through it! The song truly comes from the text. Every phrase in the song finds its source in this passage. If you know the song, you have memorized some of the verses without even knowing it!

Arrangement

In order to make this a tune in which you rejoice through sufferings, we needed to make it impossible not to move during this song. Clocking in at a 165 BPM, this thing starts energetic and doesn’t let you catch your breath. Tracey did such a great job with the vocal letting it soar and having honesty and hope in her voice (that sounds really deep, doesn’t it?).

We made sure we could have time for loud clapping and simple drum structures to keep it moving. The band did a great job of making this acoustic track seem incredibly fresh and lively.

At least in our family, this one is a hit. When we get in the car, Eli asks to hear Ms. Tracey sing “We Rejoice.” As I hear my son desire to sing these truths from 1 Peter 4:12-19 and watch as he puts all of his energy into it, the project makes it all worthwhile.