Stronger Joy
by Gary Johnson
It’s official. Thanksgiving is past and we are now in the Christmas season. We are decorating our homes, both inside and outside. Schedules are filled with places to go, people to see and things to do. Websites advertise the latest and greatest gift ideas. We watch our favorite Christmas movies and listen to our favorite Christmas music.
One familiar – and favorite – carol has lyrics that say, “Joy to the world…” but not everyone’s world at this time of year is joyful. Tough circumstances can rob us of joy, especially at Christmas. Trials and troubles do not “take time off” during the holidays when we are to be celebrating.
It’s hard to be joyful when a job has been lost, a loved one has died, a disease has been diagnosed, a marriage has come to an end, and more. Sometimes, when we come to the end of the year, it seems as if we are coming to the end of our rope. How, then, can we possibly join others as they sing “joy to the world…?” It is possible for each of us to actually experience stronger joy, even when we are in painful circumstances. After all, joy transcends mere happiness. Consider this three-part plan to experience stronger joy.
The Word of God
In the OT, we read the account of Nehemiah, a man who was burdened with sadness – even to the point of tears – over the plight of Jerusalem. He heard news of how the once-great city had been destroyed by Babylonians. Businesses, homes and even God’s temple had all been burned to the ground. The city’s walls and gates were destroyed. Jerusalem was a debris field … until Nehemiah was stirred by God to begin rebuilding. After hearing the Word of God being read all day long (Neh. 8:1-9), the Israelites were heartbroken. Nehemiah declared to the people, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (vs. 10). The Israelites had just spent hours hearing the Word of God for the first time in a long time. Their sadness was countered by hearing the Word of God, which brought them joy.
Similarly, the prophet Jeremiah spoke of the power of God’s Word when Israel was at a low point and about to be destroyed by the Babylonians. Jeremiah said, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight…” (Jer. 15:16).
When our lives resemble a debris field or when destruction lies before us, the Word of God can bring joy into our lives because it declares hope-filled promises. Our future is as bright as the promises of God – and if we KNOW the promises of God by reading the Word of God, the joy of the Lord becomes our daily strength.
The Spirit of God
All too often, we neglect the Person of the Holy Spirit. The Trinity is not “the Father, the Son and the Holy Scriptures!” The Holy Spirit is fully and completely God, and He is in us (1 Jn 4:4, 1 Cor 6:19-20). We received Him when we became Christ followers – and He provides us with joy.
In Luke 9:51, we read, “As the time approached for Him to be taken up, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” In other words, as the time approached for His ascension, which would happen after His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus began His final journey to Jerusalem. During these final months of His life, Jesus sent out His team of followers to do ministry (Luke 10:1-24), and upon their return, they shared with Him all that they had done. How did Jesus respond? Jesus was “filled with joy through the Holy Spirit” (v. 21).
Being that the Holy Spirit is God and God does not change, the Spirit still gives to us joy even in times of suffering. Joy is listed among the ever-familiar fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). We do NOT produce the fruit of the Spirit, He (the Spirit) does. Ergo, joy is His fruit that He produces in us. Paul also wrote to the believers in Thessalonica, referencing their severe suffering on knowing “joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess 1:6). When was the last time you and I asked the Spirit to fill us with His joy?
The Son of God
Think of what the world was like on the night of Jesus’ birth. Israel was living under the bondage of a nation that had conquered and occupied their land. People suffered in poverty. Starvation and persecution were real. Yet, in the dark hours of the night, an angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds and declared to them, “I bring you news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). The word “great” is a form of the word “mega.” The breaking news that broke through the darkness brought mega joy to everyone. What was the news? A Savior had been born to them – and to us!
One of the many names of Jesus is Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” And if God is with – and for us – who can be against us? Even in the darkest moments of the night, we can know mega joy. James, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2). The word “whenever” means trials of many kinds are coming, and in those moments, we can know joy because of the eternal hope that we have in the resurrection and the return of Jesus. Know Jesus, know joy. No Jesus, no joy.
Stronger joy is entirely possible because of the Word of God, the Spirit of God and the Son of God. Knowing this truth may still make it hard for us to sing “joy to the world” this Christmas but for an entirely different reason.
