A Season of Joy!

Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy. It’s supposed to be filled with singing, smiles, presents, and the presence of our loved ones.  But, we all know how quickly it can turn into a season of rushing, shopping, and maybe even some shoving. Worse than that, for some this time of the year can turn into a very sad time as their loneliness and loss rise to the surface.  Placed on a backdrop of bright lights, sleigh rides, and tables filled with laughter, the sadness and brokenness of one’s heart can easily become magnified.  For some, maybe more than we’d like to admit, the Christmas season is hardly a season of joy.

If you think about it, the time leading up to the birth of Jesus was hardly a joyful time. No one was celebrating his impending birth. Rather, Roman oppression, taxes that were soaking the lifeblood out of the people, and then a forced movement of the people across the nation all created great confusion and hardship.  Mary and Joseph were caught up in it all. With a baby about to come any day, they were forced to travel about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a trip that could have taken them up to a week’s time.  And, when they got to Bethlehem, there were so many people and so much confusion, there was no room for them in what was most likely the only inn in town! 

Were Mary and Joseph filled with joy as they made that journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem and then landed in a stable?  How about Mary’s parents who were trying to figure out what had happened to their daughter? Or, what about the people of the nation whose lives had been turned upside down by an edict from Rome?  I don’t think there was all that much joy in Israel in the days leading up to Jesus’ birth. In fact, just the opposite was true. In reality, it was a season of darkness, sadness, and despair

Yet, in the middle of the night—the night of Jesus’ birth—the angel came to the shepherds with those now famous words: “I bring you good news of great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11 – NIV) In one moment, at the moment of his birth, a season of darkness, sadness, and despair became one filled with light, hope, and yes, joy!  A savior had been born…no, the Savior had been born!  And, suddenly a very sad season was flooded with joy!

Whatever is happening in your life today, I want to encourage you to remember that this season is about so much more than bright lights, laughter, and presents under the tree. The real joy of the season is found in the coming of our Savior. Thus, no matter what is happening in your life or mine, no matter what kind of sadness we might feel in our hearts—even when we are feeling the sting of loneliness and loss—we can still sing, “Joy to the world!” for our Lord, Jesus our Savior has come!

I pray that the joy of the Lord will be your strength today! Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris