Wednesday, December 15, 2021
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. Psalms 16:11
Choose Joy
Choose Joy – it is a familiar meme, but it is a little easier said than done. But it may be one of the most important choices you ever make. The weight of this world is heavy and there is so much that can steal the joy right from us if we let it. Joy is choice and one we have to fight for at times. If we don’t choose joy and fight for it, we will end up sitting in resentment, bitterness, anger, fear, and more. This world steals our joy – the media, the social issues, the pandemic. But in Jesus Christ we can find the fullness of joy.
It takes conscious effort to turn away from the hopelessness we might see around us and intentionally focus on Jesus, but He longs for us to do just that. He is Immanuel – God with us and no matter what we go through, He is always there with us, at all times and in all things.
We can trust Him to take the weight of the world away from us and give us joy that never ends. He came as a baby to bring us this joy, and His birth was Good news of great joy to all people!
Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior,
who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
The coming of Jesus is good news of great joy for so many reasons:
It means that when life doesn’t feel joyful, we can still feel His joy deep in our souls.
It means that when our hearts are crushed or we have been hurt, we can still find joy in Him.
It means that when our future is uncertain, or we are afraid we can still choose joy.
Our joy doesn’t come from our jobs, our family, our relationships, our finances, or our things. We won’t find joy in what we have on earth or who we are with. Our joy is a gift - the gift that God gave us that first Christmas. Our joy is completely and wholly found in our Savior, Jesus. Remember that this Christmas as you reflect on His birth.
Are you missing true and pure joy in your heart this Christmas? Or any other day of the year? Circumstantial happiness is fleeting – and pretty false. Circumstantial unhappiness? Well, we can always find something to be unhappy about if we want to, which is why it is important for us to remember that joy is a choice. It doesn’t just happen so don’t sit and wait for it. Make the choice to be joyful in Jesus right now, no matter your circumstances. They will change, but true and pure joy in Jesus is everlasting.
