๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ: ๐๐ผ๐
Welcome back to our Advent series! By now, you’ve probably seen your fair share of Christmas movies, heard “Jingle Bell Rock” at least a dozen times, and maybe even had a Buddy the Elf moment where you loudly declared, “I just like to smile! Smiling’s my favorite!”
Joy is a big part of this season. It’s everywhere—on Christmas cards, in decorations, and even in the faces of kids waiting to open gifts. But the kind of joy we celebrate during Advent isn’t just about happiness or the excitement of the season; it’s something much deeper. It’s a joy that comes from knowing and experiencing the presence of Jesus.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐
When the angel appeared to the shepherds on that first Christmas night, the message was clear:
“๐น๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก, ๐๐๐ ๐๐โ๐๐๐, ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐.” (๐ฟ๐ข๐๐ 2:10).
Did you catch that? Great joy! The birth of Jesus wasn’t just good news—it was life-changing news. The Savior had come to bring hope to the hopeless, peace to the restless, and joy to the weary.
This wasn’t a joy tied to circumstances. It wasn’t based on whether life was easy or hard. The shepherds were still out in the fields, tending their sheep in the middle of the night. Life didn’t suddenly become perfect, but their joy overflowed because they had seen the Savior.
๐ง๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐
The joy we find in Jesus is steady, even when life feels anything but joyful. The Apostle Peter puts it this way:
“๐โ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ฆ๐๐ข โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐, ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ป๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ข๐โ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐, ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ.” (1 ๐๐๐ก๐๐ 1:8).
This is the kind of joy we celebrate at Christmas. It’s not fleeting like the excitement of unwrapping gifts or temporary like the thrill of a holiday party. It’s a joy that comes from knowing Jesus and trusting in His promises.
๐ฆ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐
Joy is contagious. When we live with the joy of Christ, it has a way of spreading to others. Maybe it’s through a simple smile, a kind word to someone who’s struggling, or reminding a friend of the true reason we celebrate this season.
And let’s be honest—sometimes we need to remind ourselves, too. In the middle of the busyness, the shopping lists, and the never-ending Christmas to-do’s, take time to pause and reflect on the “good news of great joy.” Jesus came to us. He is with us. And that changes everything.
So, as you wrap presents, bake cookies, or rewatch Elf for the hundredth time, let the joy of Christ fill your heart. After all, as Buddy says, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” (Or, better yet, sharing the Good News for all to hear!)