Christmas... Make It Make SenseSample

“Happy” Christmas

Being in a good mood is great. What makes you feel happy? Maybe it’s when your team lifts the trophy… finally! Or it’s when somebody compliments you? Perhaps, just a feeling you have when a friend makes you cry with absolute belly laughter?

Christian Joy is different from society’s definition of “happiness.” How?

Let’s take a deeper dive.

Happiness is fleeting, emotive, and found mainly in material circumstances. Deep-rooted, Christ-focused joy can be found there (for sure!), but it also exists in struggle, hardship, and sorrow. This joy comes when you know your future is secure, you are not alone, you are seen, and you are loved.

The Christian belief is that true joy is found in a deep, personal, tangible relationship with Jesus. The joy comes from the security of knowing Christ and the certain hope for our future in Him rather than any physical circumstances. It is why the Christmas message is so exciting. It is why Paul could sit in an awful Roman prison, facing execution, and STILL say that he’s choosing Joy. It doesn’t mean that he neglected or suppressed his deep sadness and fear, not at all. He spoke very openly about how he felt. It’s just that amidst that deep sadness and fear, he still trusted Jesus that his loss wouldn’t be the final word. His joy was rooted in his decision of faith and hope in Jesus’ life and love.

Joy is a state of the heart. It’s a place of hope. It’s much deeper than emotion. It’s looking beyond your circumstances. It’s looking to Jesus.

How can you choose true joy today?