2020 was an unforgettable year for everyone. It was the year Covid-19 changed the world, and for me, it was the year Jesus changed my life. By the time December rolled around, I had been following the Lord for about six months, but even before that, Christmas had always been my favorite holiday. I was particularly excited that year because my family had planned a big holiday trip. My brother had taken off work, our plane tickets and accommodations were booked, and I was counting down the days until we left, but our plans ended up being canceled. I was disappointed, thinking about how different Christmas was going to look than what I expected, but in that season, God taught me that true joy is not found in circumstances, but in Him.
True joy is not about getting what I want, or having my expectations met, but in trusting the One who has ordained the circumstances of my life. That Christmas, God met me in the quiet moments at home with my family, helped me focus on the true meaning of the holiday, and was shaping my new faith in ways that I could not have understood at the time.
James tells us that we can rejoice in trials and imperfect circumstances because they produce something in us (James 1:2-4). Our joy comes from trusting the perfection and providence of our God and knowing that He is using our trials to shape us and strengthen our faith. God never promised that we would not suffer. In fact, He guaranteed that we would experience troubles (John 16:33). His promise to us is that in the midst of those difficulties, He is with us.
Mary and Joseph were no strangers to life’s challenges. Their situation with Mary’s pregnancy was difficult and shameful, and I can imagine that they struggled to understand what God was doing through them. Mary did not find joy in trying to make sense of her situation, but she found joy in choosing to trust God and praise Him for His goodness, even if she couldn’t wrap her mind around His ways. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).
We know that the baby she carried was the Savior of the World and the King of Kings, the One who will one day restore all things and put an end to all suffering and pain. The One who has overcome the world. He is the “good news of great joy” that the angel of the Lord spoke of to the shepherds on the day of His birth (Luke 2:10). Because He is with us, we do not have to fear.
Thirty years later, on a sinking boat with his disciples, Jesus asked them why they were afraid. It seems like a silly question, considering they had every reason to believe they were about to drown. However, when you think about who Jesus is, and who He has always been, you can understand why He expected them not to fear. It was because He was with them. Their peace came not from their circumstances, but from the presence of God in the midst of the storm.
Praise be to God for being born in the likeness of men. For humbling Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross, so that we could have the gift of His presence. God with us. This Christmas, let us rejoice in that truth and in the comfort of knowing that, thanks to Christ, our joy is rooted so much deeper than in the ever-changing circumstances of our lives.
Reflection Questions
- We know that true joy is more than just a feeling. It is a deep-rooted confidence in God’s goodness and faithfulness. What do you think it looks like to have joy in the midst of painful and heavy emotions?
- We live in a world weary with the effort of pursuing fleeting feelings of happiness. What are some practical ways that we as Christians can show the world the secure joy that comes with walking with Christ?