The Joy of Christmas

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." - 1 Peter 1:8

Perhaps, because of all the preparation and commercialism around Christmas, we have become tired, or even cynical about it. It's hard to feel joyful when we have a million and one things to do, and very little time to get it all done!

If you ask most people to define joy, they will use words like happiness or being positive. They will often describe a feeling they get when everything in their life is going well, when they have job satisfaction, or they are in a strong loving relationship, or the people around them are easy to love.

That kind of joy is fragile, it's the kind that disappears the moment that something goes wrong. Plans fall through, people disappoint us, stress builds up and just like a click of the fingers, the joy we had moments ago, has gone. That kind of joy is real, but easily stolen.

But, biblical joy is something much deeper. It's not about what is happening around you, it's about what is happening within you.

In 1 Peter 1:8, Peter describes believers who are experiencing hardship and persecution, yet, they still have a joy that is "inexpressible and glorious."

That's not because their circumstances were easy, it is because their hope was rooted in something bigger. They believed in a Saviour they could not see, they trusted in a future they hadn't yet experienced, and they anchored their lives to a love that couldn't be shaken by suffering.

That is real joy, which is not seasonal, but supernatural.

Joy is not about pretending everything is fine, or denying the pain we feel. Biblical joy exists with tears, it is not the absence of hardship, it's the presence of God in the middle of it.

This kind of joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit. It grows in us when we are connected to Jesus, when we spend time with Him in prayer, planted in His word and when we have real faith in Him, through all the beautiful and brutal times in our lives.

Isn't it true, that when we are secure in the love of God, we start to see everything else through a new lens? We notice His goodness in everyday things, and we live with an open heart because even in loss, we are never alone. It's the kind of joy that looks at loss and still says, "Jesus is enough." That's the kind of joy Jesus gives, it's a joy rooted in truth.

However, some days it can feel like a battle, when the day ahead feels heavy and draining, rather than joyful. The enemy will try to convince us that joy is only for when life is going well, that it is naive and temporary. In those moments, we have a choice! We can chase temporary happiness or we can return to the One who offers lasting joy. The Spirit reminds us that our joy is tied to the cross, to the empty tomb and to the presence of God in our everyday lives.

So, in this Christmas season, let's just pause to notice what God is doing in our lives, and take a moment to say "Thank you" for the joy we have felt, for the joy we are still waiting on, and for the joy that is growing quietly, even now. Joy grows when we reflect and it strengthens when we respond. It's what sets us apart in a world full of pressure and noise.

So pause, breathe, receive and rejoice!