Advent Week 3: Joy.

Delight. Gladness. 

Joy comes naturally to some people - I am not one of those people. It actually took me significantly longer to write this week’s devotional than any other week. I like to call myself a realist as opposed to an optimist or pessimist. I am overly (and maybe chronically) aware of the ever growing circumstances where joy should not be the logical reaction. It should be panic. It should be depression and hopelessness. But even in these moments today where it’s pure chaos and confusion, we can confidently choose joy. Joy isn’t something you have to ask for or be qualified for, it is rightfully yours and you already have it - some just choose not to access it. 

How do we access it and continue to live in it? 

Joy is strengthened by the past.

For 400 years, not a peep from heaven. No prophet, not words, no signs. We can probably infer, the jewish people might have felt hopeless, desperate, downcast, and forgotten. During that time, it would have served the Israelites well to remember the salvation they received from Egypt, to remember God being faithful to bring them to the promised land. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalms‬ ‭51:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬. Remind us of the joy of your salvation, not the burdens of it. Rejoice in salvation. May we be willing and obedient all our days, building spiritual strength and stamina. 

Joy is fueled by the future.

Joy is an attitude we adopt despite circumstances because of God’s faithfulness to His word. The Christmas story reminds us God is dedicated to His word and doing what He said He would do - even if it is not on our timetable. Choose joy in the middle because of our hope of a better future than our present. God’s promise is that the future is guaranteed to be better than the present because of heaven. Therefore, we can rejoice in all things at all times. The joy from the hope of heaven releases joy on earth. It frees me to experience joy on earth. The joy in knowing earth is temporary but also knowing your eternity is secure, allows you to kick back and enjoy the simple pleasures and fractions of joy we will experience in heaven. 

When joy does not feel like an option, choose it anyway because God has always been faithful and will continue to be. 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven...”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬