--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You may not be able to rejoice over the…" description: "\"“You may not be able to rejoice over the past or over your present situation, but you can rejoice that God has given you the ability to use this day fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/gary-chapman-1325_rejoice_you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the_673033.png" --- # You may not be able to rejoice over the past or over your… ![“You may not be able to rejoice over the past or over your present situation, but you can rejoice that God has given you the ability to use this day for good.” quote by Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/gary-chapman-1325_rejoice_you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the_673033.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/gary-chapman-1325_rejoice_you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the_673033.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/gary-chapman-1325_rejoice_you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the_673033.png) > ““You may not be able to rejoice over the past or over your present situation, but you can rejoice that God has given you the ability to use this day for good.”” [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot control past or present circumstances, but we can choose to use today for good, reflecting God's gift of agency. **In simple terms:** We can make today good despite past or present hardships. Key Takeaway Use today purposefully. Themes faith purpose agency Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - volunteering - daily decision making - overcoming adversity Key Concepts theology gratitude free will Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn today’s challenges into good? - What does gratitude enable you to do? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic constraints that limit ability to act. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able Rejoice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-rejoice-5340200/) [Rejoice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejoice/) [Rejoice God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejoice-god-325653/) [Rejoice Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejoice-past-5340201/) [Situation Rejoice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation-rejoice-5340202/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [We will not "forget" so as to be able to rejoice; we will rejoice and therefore let those memories (of wrongs suffered) slip out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-volf/we-will-not-forget-so-as-to-be-able-to-rejoice-we-will-rejoice-and/) [Miroslav Volf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-volf/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [It is no use to grumble and complain; It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice; When God sorts out the weather and sends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/it-is-no-use-to-grumble-and-complain-it-s-just-as-cheap-and-easy-to/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [Toward night, I felt my soul rejoice, that God is unchangeable happy and glorious and that He will be glorified, whatever becomes of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brainerd/toward-night-i-felt-my-soul-rejoice-that-god-is-unchangeable-happy/) [David Brainerd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brainerd/) > [I have never ceased to rejoice that God has appointed me to such an office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livingstone/i-have-never-ceased-to-rejoice-that-god-has-appointed-me-to-such-an/) [David Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livingstone/) > [Your own efforts "did not bring it to pass," only God-but rejoice if God found a use for your efforts in His work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/your-own-efforts-did-not-bring-it-to-pass-only-god-but-rejoice-if-god/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [To rejoice in temporal comforts is dangerous, to rejoice in self is foolish, to rejoice in sin is fatal, but to rejoice in God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-rejoice-in-temporal-comforts-is-dangerous-to-rejoice-in-self-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We rejoice in God since he has taught us that every thing which is true in us, is but a faint expression of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/we-rejoice-in-god-since-he-has-taught-us-that-every-thing-which-is/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be-2/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [“Let God make you fully you. Rejoice in your God-given temperament and use it for God's purposes. This point cannot be emphasized enough. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-s-mchugh/let-god-make-you-fully-you-rejoice-in-your-god-given-temperament-and/) [Adam S. McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-s-mchugh/) > [Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/begin-to-rejoice-in-the-lord-and-your-bones-will-flourish-like-an/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [May each one of us glorify the Lord with the soul of Mary and rejoice in God with the spirit of Mary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose/may-each-one-of-us-glorify-the-lord-with-the-soul-of-mary-and-rejoice/) [Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose/) > [Good Friday is a day of sorrow mingled with joy. It is a time to grieve over the sin of man and to meditate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-katski/good-friday-is-a-day-of-sorrow-mingled-with-joy-it-is-a-time-to/) [David Katski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-katski/) > [“True happiness is always self-forgetful: it loses itself in the object of its joy. As the joy of the Holy Ghost fills us, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-murray/true-happiness-is-always-self-forgetful-it-loses-itself-in-the-object/) [Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-murray/) > [I am not officially involved now in the direction of the Teen Challenge ministry, but I rejoice that God permits me to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wilkerson/i-am-not-officially-involved-now-in-the-direction-of-the-teen/) [David Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wilkerson/) ## More by Gary Chapman > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Something in our nature cries out to be loved by another. Isolation is devastating to the human psyche. That is why solitary confinement is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/something-in-our-nature-cries-out-to-be-loved-by-another-isolation-is/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Most of us have more potential than we will ever develop. What holds us back is often a lack of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/most-of-us-have-more-potential-than-we-will-ever-develop-what-holds/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [On the other hand, if I walk in the house, I don't even bother to find her, I just walk in the den and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/on-the-other-hand-if-i-walk-in-the-house-i-don-t-even-bother-to-find/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“I look for three things in hiring people. The first is personal integrity, the second is intelligence, and the third is a high energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/i-look-for-three-things-in-hiring-people-the-first-is-personal/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Love is always freely given. Love cannot be demanded. We can request things of each other, but we must never demand anything. Requests give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/love-is-always-freely-given-love-cannot-be-demanded-we-can-request/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“Psychologist William James said that possibly the deepest human need is the need to feel appreciated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/psychologist-william-james-said-that-possibly-the-deepest-human-need/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [I think that in today's world, by nature, we are all self-centered. And that often leads to selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/i-think-that-in-today-s-world-by-nature-we-are-all-self-centered-and/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Sometimes when the spouse is really the culprit, it is hard to admit what you consider your little failures, but if you are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/sometimes-when-the-spouse-is-really-the-culprit-it-is-hard-to-admit/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“There is a third truth, which only the mature lover will be able to hear. My spouse’s criticisms about my behavior provide me with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/there-is-a-third-truth-which-only-the-mature-lover-will-be-able-to/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [ The getting out part \[of advise\] may well be true. Because if you have tried the tender love thing... typically the abuser is not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/the-getting-out-part-of-advise-may-well-be-true-because-if-you-have/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [ I wrote this book \[ Desperate Marriages\] because of my own marriage. My wife and I struggled greatly in the early years of marriage.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/i-wrote-this-book-desperate-marriages-because-of-my-own-marriage-my/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [As a senior in high school, I had a strong sense that God wanted me in some kind of ministry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/as-a-senior-in-high-school-i-had-a-strong-sense-that-god-wanted-me-in/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [We all desperately need love. If a spouse in a difficult marriage will learn the love language of that spouse, and they will, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/we-all-desperately-need-love-if-a-spouse-in-a-difficult-marriage-will/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [“If acts of service do not come naturally for you, it is still a love language worth acquiring. It is a way of expressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/if-acts-of-service-do-not-come-naturally-for-you-it-is-still-a-love/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) [Explore all 254 Gary Chapman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) ## More Rejoice quotes > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-stand-and-rejoice-every-time-i-see-a-woman-ride-by-on-a-wheel-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I rejoice to live in such a splendidly disturbing time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/i-rejoice-to-live-in-such-a-splendidly-disturbing-time/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, Thou art the present portion of Thy people, favour us this year with such a sense of Thy preciousness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/since-o-sweet-lord-jesus-thou-art-the-present-portion-of-thy-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [There is no occasion for our rejoicing at a foe's death, because our own life will also not last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/there-is-no-occasion-for-our-rejoicing-at-a-foe-s-death-because-our/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [ None mourn more ostentatiously than those who most rejoice at it \[a death\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tacitus/none-mourn-more-ostentatiously-than-those-who-most-rejoice-at-it-a/) [Tacitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tacitus/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [Satan is ever present, trying to destroy our glory and remove our crown. One of his most powerful tools is discouragement. Don't let your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/satan-is-ever-present-trying-to-destroy-our-glory-and-remove-our/) [Marvin J. Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [Does a man speak foolishly?--suffer him gladly, for you are wise. Does he speak erroneously?--stop such a man's mouth with sound words that cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/does-a-man-speak-foolishly-suffer-him-gladly-for-you-are-wise-does-he/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) [Browse all 942 Rejoice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejoice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You may not be able to rejoice over the past or over your present situation, but you can rejoice that God has given you the ability to use this day for good.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Chapman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the-past-or-over-your-present/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Rejoice" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the-past-or-over-your-present/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/gary-chapman-1325_rejoice_you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the_673033.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/gary-chapman-1325_rejoice_you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the_673033.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/gary-chapman-1325_rejoice_you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the_673033.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You may not be able to rejoice over the past or over your present situation, but you can rejoice that God…” — Gary Chapman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gary Chapman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You may not be able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the-past-or-over-your-present/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/you-may-not-be-able-to-rejoice-over-the-past-or-over-your-present/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```