By: Kysa Schafer
This 3rd week of the Advent season, we celebrate the joy of Christmas.
“The joy of Christmas.” That’s a loaded phrase for so many.
In this fallen world, it can be easy to feel anything but joyful, especially during the holiday season. This time of year has a way of magnifying all of our hurt.
The chair that is now empty for the first time.
The couple still waiting for those two pink lines.
The parents without the ability to put a roof over their children’s heads or food in their children’s bellies.
The family grappling with a terminal diagnosis.
Those dreading spending holidays in close proximity to an abuser.
This list could go on and on.
We know that this should be a joyful time of year. All of the songs tell us to rejoice. There are parties and celebrations every week. Advertising is in full swing and everywhere we look, it’s “buy me, and be happy!” But none of these things make us feel joy. In fact, they can make us feel the opposite. So how on earth is it possible to have joy?
Finding joy is not possible if we are looking to things on earth to give us joy. To find joy in this season, we must orient our hearts to the eternal things that we cannot see.
Everything on earth is temporary and will pass away. But God’s promises will never change. He will never forsake us. He will never disappear from us or disappoint us. When we failed to have faith in Him and fell out of right relationship with Him, He promised to save us from our sin.
The Christmas season is the celebration of the fulfillment of that promise. Christ Jesus came down from heaven to take the form of a man, live among us, work miracles for us, die for us, defeat death for us, and complete our joy. The joy we find in Christ Jesus’s life is the deepest joy possible, because it is eternal and does not depend on our emotions, circumstances, or works. We can rejoice that Christ saved us even in the midst of the pain and brokenness we experience on earth as a result of sin.
Father God, I rejoice this Christmas season because your son Jesus Christ is born! You gave me the most wonderful miracle when you sent Jesus to dwell among us and ultimately to save us, me included. Because of Jesus, I am forgiven. Because of Jesus, I am freed from sin. Because of Jesus, I look forward to a future where death is defeated and I will live with you forever. Because of Jesus, I have full confidence that you are all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and just. I worship you with JOY in my heart because you are so good. Amen.
Dig Deeper
Reflection Questions:
What circumstances in your life are making it difficult for you to experience joy this season?
Do you feel like you have an adequate support system to help you through what you’re going through? Can the team at Praying Through ministries come alongside you to pray for you?
Think about God’s eternal goodness and His promises. What excites you most about knowing what Christ Jesus has done for you?
Putting Your Faith in Action:
Do you know someone struggling to experience joy this season? Choose to do something to help them in a tangible way, whether that is prayer, inviting them to a meal, providing for a financial need, or simply being there to listen.
Spend up to 5 minutes each day to be truly present with the Lord and rejoice in His eternal goodness and promises. Maybe this looks like offering a prayer of thanksgiving, or maybe singing along or dancing to your favorite worship song. Remember that our joy in the midst of suffering can act as a powerful witness for Christ.
Further Reading:
Psalm 51:12
John 16:22
Romans 15:13
Galatians 5:22
Kysa lives in Oregon with her husband Steven and her three children. She works part time as a Civil Engineer, but her greatest passion is serving her family as a wife and a mother. Kysa is also passionate about her role in the body - or family - of Christ. While navigating infertility and loss, Kysa discovered another calling on her life: to come together with families experiencing similar hardship and grief and pray for them in their darkest hours. This calling led Kysa to Praying Through Ministries, where she volunteers as a member of the Prayer Team and Writing Team. During her time with Praying Through Ministries, Kysa has come to believe even more in God’s presence and goodness as He has provided her with a community of support, belonging, grace, and hope in the midst of crisis and trauma. Her prayer for everyone who interacts with this ministry is that they feel God’s presence in their lives and know that they are not alone.
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