Sometimes joy is something that we have to look for. In a world that seems to offer plenty of negativity and bad news on every hand, making a concerted effort to find joy in the midst of everything going on around us is necessary. As we find ourselves in the middle of Advent, getting closer to Christmas every day, there are some things that we can find joy in.
“Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King”
Isaac Watts-1719
Christmastime is widely seen as a time of joy. God’s people understand that the celebration of Christ’s birth is truly a time where we can embrace the joy associated with the fact that God became a human so that humans could have a real relationship with God. In a world that seems like it is spiraling more and more out of control every day, the importance of finding joy cannot be overstated.
While many of us assumed that the Christmas of 2020 would be one of the most unusual that we would ever see, 2021 seems to be on pace to be pretty similar. While the original COVID-19 pandemic appeared to calm down some earlier in the year, we’re now facing yet another new variant that could easily lead to stay-at-home orders and many of the same issues that we’ve combatted over the last two years. With record-setting storms and natural disasters taking up most of the news cycle, a global pandemic that just won’t go away, and unprecedented fear making itself known on every hand, it can seem difficult to find anything to be joyful about.
More than 300 years ago, Isaac Watts penned the familiar Christmas carol “Joy to the World.” This Advent, as we prepare to celebrate the most important day in the history of the world, the day that Christ was born, allow yourself to find joy in the following 3 things. You’ll quickly notice that once you start finding joy, joy makes itself more evident to you.
Joy produces more joy. When you start noticing things in your life that you’re joyful about, you’ll quickly find yourself noticing other things in your life that you can be joyful about. Today, choose joy. In the face of bad news, scary times, and personal adversity, you can choose joy. If you don’t believe that you have any reason to do so, start with these 3 things during Advent.
The Difference in Happiness and Joy
Psalm 5:11 (TPT)
But let them all be glad, those who turn aside to hide themselves in you. May they keep shouting for joy forever! Overshadow them in your presence as they sing and rejoice. Then every lover of your name will burst forth with endless joy.
We often confuse happiness and joy. While the two emotions are related, they’re not the same thing. Happiness is a fleeting concept. When you get a promotion at work, you’re happy. When you realize that your promotion results in longer hours, more stress, and other issues, that happiness quickly gives way to other emotions. When you get an acceptance letter to the college of your dreams, you may think that you’re feeling joy, but it’s most likely happiness. It’s safe to assume that because that happiness is often replaced by doubt, stress, anxiety, and any number of other negative emotions.
The primary difference in happiness and joy is based on the fact that happiness is fleeting while joy is permanent. Happiness is an emotional response to the things going on around you in the moment. Unfortunately, when those things end, it’s easy for joy to dissipate. Conversely, joy is one of the Fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. That means that it’s not an emotional response to a certain situation. Instead, joy is an ingrained part of who you are. When you choose to let joy grow in your life, it’s a more permanent feeling than happiness. In fact, it’s not a feeling at all. It’s a fruit that is generated by the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.
If you’re looking for areas to let joy grow in your life, start with these.
The Reason for the Season
Luke 1:35 (TPT)
Gabriel answered, “The Spirit of Holiness will fall upon you and almighty God will spread his shadow of power over you in a cloud of glory! This is why the child born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
The fulfilled promise from Gabriel to Mary is the reason for Christmas. Mary, who history teaches us was a virgin teenager at the time, was going to give birth to the Son of God. In Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit from the forbidden tree, God knew that He would eventually have to set a plan into motion to offer humanity the salvation that we so desperately need. He also recognized that the only way to do that was to give His Only Son (John 3:16).
If it had not been for the events of the first Christmas, we would not be able to enter into a relationship with God. The only way for us to find the freedom from sin that we so desperately need was for Christ to come into the world as a human, live a sinless life, die, and raise again.
When you’re looking for something to be joyful about this Christmas, be joyful about the fact that God loved you so much that He gave the very best that He had to offer because He wanted you in His family. Your salvation is the source of your joy, and the Advent season provides the opportunity to truly meditate on it and to thank God for loving you so much.
The People in Your Life
Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 (ESV)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone?
The Christmas season is a great chance for you to spend some time with family and friends. The people in your life are one of the greatest blessings that God has given you. In a world where everyone seems to be so busy all the time, Christmas is a great opportunity to slow down and spend some time with the people around you.
In a world of more than 7 billion people, God has chosen to connect you to the friends and family that you have. Your relationships with others are invaluable. When you’re looking for something to be joyful about this year, sit down and truly start thinking about the people in your life and how they make things better. It’s also a great opportunity for you to let others know exactly how much they mean to you.
The Ability to Serve
Matthew 25:35-36 (TPT)
For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to say, you invited me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.
This passage of Scripture is one of the most powerful mandates to help those less fortunate found in Scripture. According to Jesus, when we help those who are less fortunate, hungry, poorly clothed, and even imprisoned, we are actually serving God. Obviously, it’s a great thing if you can do these things even when it’s not Christmastime. However, it’s not uncommon for more opportunities to serve others to present themselves during this time of year.
As children of God, we understand the joy associated with serving others. Due to the commercialization of Christmas, it’s easy to spend the season focusing on what you don’t have. However, when you take a moment and start thinking about how blessed you are, your lack seems more like abundance.
However, our joy isn’t found in things we have. Instead, joy is found in serving other people. Spend some time this holiday season serving others. The joy that you experience from doing so will carry over to the rest of the year.
A Closing Prayer:
Father, thank You for giving me access to the kind of joy that can only come from a relationship with You. I am grateful for the people in my life that You have connected me to. Show me opportunities to serve others, so I can serve You. In Christ’s name, Amen.