By F. D. Adkins
UNSTOPPABLE JOY. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:10 KJV).
Christmas lights and songs of glee— a season to be filled with happiness. But sometimes life throws us a curveball, and occasionally, we are hit with a barrage of curveballs all at once that pummel us to the ground, leaving us in an ocean of heartache, pain, and grief.
How can we feel joy in the midst of so much hurt? What even is joy?
- “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 KJV
Joy comes from God. When the angel appeared to the shepherds in Luke 2:10, the angel was bringing the good news of joy for everyone. In other words, the good news was not just the birth of Christ, but the birth of Christ meant everybody could have joy. Jesus came to take the punishment for the sin that separates us from God. The veil was torn. The barrier was removed so we could enter into the presence of God.
- “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV
Because of Jesus, we can have joy even as we flail around in an ocean of pounding waves. We can have joy because we do not have to be alone in the midst of those waves. Because of Jesus, we have the gift of being able to come to the “throne of grace” and “find grace to help in the time of need”. When we accept Jesus and His gift of salvation, in the midst of the ocean, we have the assurance of Isaiah 43:2 (KJV): “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Life in this world is not always big smiles and rays of sunshine. Jesus knows. He came to earth (for us). He was not born into wealth. He was not even born in a warm home with a bed and soft blankets. His birth was in an unsanitary stable, and his bed was a food trough for animals. He suffered hardship, betrayal, and pain. HE UNDERSTANDS.
As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember the birth of our Savior, and let us be filled with the joy of being in His presence. Trials and tribulations may be blocking the sunlight, but let us remember that joy is found in a relationship with Jesus, not our external circumstances.
- “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17 KJV
And the joy that comes from a relationship with Jesus will give us the strength to endure our circumstances.
- “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10 KJV
This Christmas, let us not only remember the birth of Jesus, but let us celebrate the joy that we have because of Him—the joy of knowing we will spend eternity with our Savior.
- “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:22 KJV
- “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Revelation 21:4 KJV
