JOY.

A word that is often associated with this time of year.

A word we hear and sing in songs like “Joy to the World.” 

A word that represents a feeling we are expected to have during Christmas.

That all sounds great and wonderful, but what if joy is not what you feel during Christmas?

What if you have absolutely no desire to think about the events and wrappings of Christmas?

What if you don’t have family with whom to share your Christmas?

What if Christmas brings back difficult memories? 

All justifiable reasons not to have joy.

HOWEVER, what if joy is a choice, rather than a feeling?

“You’re saying that I can CHOOSE to be joyful?”

YES!

You see, the joy of Christmas goes deeper than the presents, the Christmas candy, the beautiful lights wrapped around the tree – even more than being with family:

The real joy of Christmas comes from knowing why Jesus was born in the first place.

Jesus was born to be our Messiah, our Savior. He came to bring us forgiveness for our sins. The coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will always be enough to sustain our joy because He will always be worth celebrating.

So, on this day that we celebrate Christmas, let’s change the questions to:

WHAT IF…

• …we boldly ask our generous God to give us joy in Him? 
• …this Christmas, we stop striving to do and simply allow ourselves to relax and be fully present?
• …choose to find joy in Jesus, even in middle of the unresolved problems of life?
• …when we pray, we simply ask Jesus to provide for needs and then actually trust Him with the details? 
• …as it says in Psalm 98:4, we break forth into joyous song and sing “Joy to the World” loud and strong?

Joy to the world the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King.

Let every heart declare Him room

And Heav’n and nature sing

And Heav’n and nature sing

Let Heav’n and Heav’n

And nature sing!

This, my friend, is the joy of Christmas.

Written by RFTH