JoySample

Joy Defined: Not Cheap

In 2020, a documentary entitled The Weight of Gold highlighted the challenges faced by many Olympic gold medalists. The explosive joy they experience standing on the victor’s podium isn’t cheap. It comes with great sacrifice.

A similar aspect of true joy is found in the Christmas story when Mary and Joseph bring their precious newborn to the temple. That same day, God’s Spirit led a devout man named Simeon to the temple. He had been eagerly awaiting the Messiah’s arrival because the Spirit had promised that he would see the Messiah in the flesh before his death.

Mary and Joseph arrive at the temple to fulfill the custom of presenting their new baby to the Lord, and miraculously, Simeon recognizes the child as the promised Messiah! Simeon prophesies over the newborn and blesses the family while Mary and Joseph marvel at his words.

Then, in an unusual closing statement, Simeon directs his attention to Mary and says, a sword will pierce your very soul.

Mary’s pain was no longer wrapped in the cultural shame of pregnancy before marriage. Now, what lies on the horizon is the harsh reality of the hardship her child would endure, a reality that Mary did not yet understand.

It became evident very quickly that the favor placed on her life would come with a cost that was not cheap. Her joy came at a high price. The extent of Mary’s sacrifice didn’t end after a few months of social stigma. God’s calling on her life included an ongoing cost. Namely, the future pain of witnessing her son’s suffering and crucifixion.

As we see in Mary’s story, true joy does not involve an exchange: pay up today, and you’ll get joy tomorrow. Instead, true joy grows alongside sacrifice in the same soil as deep pain for both Mary and us today.

Reflection: Have I been living under the assumption that joy will be possible only after certain hardships are over? Am I willing to rejoice in the Lord, even while I may be experiencing a soul-piercing season?

Prayer: Lord, you never promised that life would be easy, but you did promise that you are with me and that in your presence is fullness of joy. Help me embrace the beauty among the ashes and rejoice alongside the sacrifices of life.