Christmas Joy … Christ Has Come, His Renewing Joy Attends To Our Soul

The presence and proclamation of joy is at the core of the Christmas story. The angels proclaimed it and all those who believed and embraced the Christ child experienced it.

The truth is that the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ were harsh and challenging. Though perfect in its prophetic timing … the times were not perfect … not at all.

Not then and not now!

Our world is troubled on many fronts. Governments are shaking, economies are fragile, and we are celebrating yet another Christmas in the midst of a pandemic.

Uncertainty lingers, hope is suspended, we all feel a great sense of apprehension … and yet deep down we know that this promise remains …

Christmas Joy … Christ Has Come, His Renewing Joy Attends To Our Soul

Even in the darkest of times this truth prevails!

Psalm 16:11 makes this perfectly clear for us,”You God will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”

Whenever Christ dwells among us … joy is present!

Dr. Robert Kim in his article, “Renewing Our Joy” says this, “Far too often in our lives, we settle for happiness rather than joy. Joy is something that lasts while happiness is short-lived. Joy is something that springs from within while happiness is based on external circumstances. Joy is accompanied by contentment and confidence while happiness is fleeting.

In these things we can put our trust!

Christmas Joy … Christ Has Come, His Renewing Joy Attends To Our Soul

When Christ comes to us His intention is to nurture our souls, to attend to our deficiencies and discouragement. He draws us near; He lifts us up and He emboldens our hearts!

His renewing joy brings life to us … and beckons us to lean into Him all the more.

Dr. Robert Kim reminds us to be profoundly aware of what we are destined to become. He quotes C.S. Lewis’ words in ‘The Weight of Glory”, “It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with lesser things when infinite joy has offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

He then lays a profound challenge before us, “While we may not still make the mud pies of Lewis’ day, we are far too easily pleased to settle for happiness in place of the infinite joy that is found in the gospel.

We do want to pause and ponder this … these are words that will lead us to life, if we can acknowledge them and accept them.

Christmas Joy … Christ Has Come, His Renewing Joy Attends To Our Soul

Christ gives birth to renewing joy … we certainly can celebrate this reality!

What a promise … one that we do need to be reminded of because it has the potential to change our lives.

Will you join me in saying yes to this?

-Terry-