Devotional (December 14) – Sarah Parker
Joy. It’s a feeling we all love. It is reflected in our actions and often is associated with our circumstances. We’ve all experienced joy whether it be reuniting with a loved one, an unexpected blessing or the feeling that comes over us when we remember certain positive events that have happened in our past. Joy is a wonderful feeling, but it’s also so much more than an emotion tied to our circumstances. We limit joy, and confuse it with happiness, when it becomes tied to our circumstances. When we inevitably experience the heartache and pain of this life, when we lose someone we love, or are navigating sickness, we can seemingly lose our joy. We don’t know how to hold onto both joy and heartbreak, joy and sickness, or joy and sorrow. The tension is felt between the two and we don’t know how to hold both at the same time, often resulting in us unintentionally letting go of our joy. But what if we didn’t have to pick between the two? What if we discovered that there is beauty in holding both joy and sorrow at the same time? What if joy isn’t based on our circumstances but on the choices we make to focus our attention on Jesus and not on what is happening around us? Could it be possible to then hold both joy and sorrow simultaneously? I believe so.
James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Hebrews 12: 1b-2 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Scripture has countless examples of people who were joy-filled in times of great pain, of people who fixed their eyes on God when they could have easily been lost in their painful circumstances. May this Christmas season be full of joy for you as you choose to fix your eyes on Jesus and trust that his joy will be your strength, especially in seasons of sorrow and pain.
Joy. It’s a feeling we all love. It is reflected in our actions and often is associated with our circumstances. We’ve all experienced joy whether it be reuniting with a loved one, an unexpected blessing or the feeling that comes over us when we remember certain positive events that have happened in our past. Joy is a wonderful feeling, but it’s also so much more than an emotion tied to our circumstances. We limit joy, and confuse it with happiness, when it becomes tied to our circumstances. When we inevitably experience the heartache and pain of this life, when we lose someone we love, or are navigating sickness, we can seemingly lose our joy. We don’t know how to hold onto both joy and heartbreak, joy and sickness, or joy and sorrow. The tension is felt between the two and we don’t know how to hold both at the same time, often resulting in us unintentionally letting go of our joy. But what if we didn’t have to pick between the two? What if we discovered that there is beauty in holding both joy and sorrow at the same time? What if joy isn’t based on our circumstances but on the choices we make to focus our attention on Jesus and not on what is happening around us? Could it be possible to then hold both joy and sorrow simultaneously? I believe so.
James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Hebrews 12: 1b-2 “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Scripture has countless examples of people who were joy-filled in times of great pain, of people who fixed their eyes on God when they could have easily been lost in their painful circumstances. May this Christmas season be full of joy for you as you choose to fix your eyes on Jesus and trust that his joy will be your strength, especially in seasons of sorrow and pain.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for the gift of joy. Thank you that our joy is not tied to circumstances but rather to who you are. Please help us to navigate the tension of joy and sorrow in our world. May we remember that you are always good and always present. We love you, Jesus. Amen.
Song
Listen to “O Holy Night” by Lauren Daigle and take time to reflect on the following line: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” Reflect on a time when hope has sustained you and brought you joy during a season of life where you felt weary. What does it look like, or what could it look like, to lean into joy in the midst of your weariness?
Advent Practice: The Blessing of Generosity – What will we share with others?
As we learn to live with joy we can learn to recognize what we have been blessed with that can be generously shared with others. Look for a creative way to share with others. Make a donation of extra clothing or toys. Find someone who recently moved into the neighborhood and find out what they need to help setup their new home. Make a donation to NightShift or a food bank. Give to one of these Alliance International Workers or projects. Did you get a Christmas bonus? Ask Jesus to highlight how you could bless someone else with what you have received. What did you experience as you gave? What was challenging? What was rewarding?
Jesus, thank you for the gift of joy. Thank you that our joy is not tied to circumstances but rather to who you are. Please help us to navigate the tension of joy and sorrow in our world. May we remember that you are always good and always present. We love you, Jesus. Amen.
Song
Listen to “O Holy Night” by Lauren Daigle and take time to reflect on the following line: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” Reflect on a time when hope has sustained you and brought you joy during a season of life where you felt weary. What does it look like, or what could it look like, to lean into joy in the midst of your weariness?
Advent Practice: The Blessing of Generosity – What will we share with others?
As we learn to live with joy we can learn to recognize what we have been blessed with that can be generously shared with others. Look for a creative way to share with others. Make a donation of extra clothing or toys. Find someone who recently moved into the neighborhood and find out what they need to help setup their new home. Make a donation to NightShift or a food bank. Give to one of these Alliance International Workers or projects. Did you get a Christmas bonus? Ask Jesus to highlight how you could bless someone else with what you have received. What did you experience as you gave? What was challenging? What was rewarding?
