Celebrate with Joy!

READ: MATTHEW 2:10-11; LUKE 1:46-49; REVELATION 21:3

All the trappings of Christmas fill me with joyful expectation leading up to the day we celebrate Christ’s birth. However, last year sadness stole my joy. In mid-December, our granddaughter was diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor on her fibula, requiring surgery and extensive physical therapy. Sad and worried, I began just going through the motions of Christmas. A week before Christmas day, my daughter-in-law’s great-aunt died—followed by the death of my cousin, who was as close to me as a brother. At that point, I felt no joy. I wanted Christmas to be over.

But then, something happened. Messages of joy surrounded me. Our Sunday sermon revolved around the joy of Jesus coming into the world, and the benediction from Romans 15:13 stayed with me all day: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” So, when I was overwhelmed with sadness and grief, I repeated, “I trust you.”

My daily devotions focused on finding joy in difficult situations, like a change of plans, a bad accident, or hurt feelings during the holiday season—and they used non-Christmas verses like 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you,” and Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.” All these prompted me to pray for joy.

When I awoke on Christmas Eve thinking of Philippians 4:4, which says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” my outlook changed. Our grand darling was under the best care at Mayo Clinic. I remembered happy times spent with my daughter-in-law’s aunt and many Christmases with my cousin. My joy returned. My trust in Jesus deepened. An angel didn’t appear to me like one did to the shepherds, but I do believe I was reminded about the “good news” of “great joy” so I could celebrate with joy the birth of my Savior. • Rose Ross Zediker

• Have you been going through something difficult lately? Do the holidays stir up painful memories or grief for you? Many of us feel melancholy during the Christmas season, and that’s okay. God invites us to be honest with Him about all these things. He longs to comfort us in His love, and He doesn’t stop there. He also reminds us that He is the source of unchanging joy. We can carry His joy in our hearts because God’s promise was fulfilled. Our Savior was born! Consider taking some time to talk to Him about the hard things, and also to take hold of His joy today.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10 (NIV)