The Christmas season is here. Our homes, workplaces and cities are decorated. We’re going to parties and plays, and listening to Christmas songs while we shop. We are surrounded by messages that tell us how we should feel and “be” in this season. Take a stroll down a Christmas décor shopping aisle and you’re likely to see the word “Joy” to hang on the tree or maybe even put in your yard as a giant light display. We all want joy in our lives, but the reality is, we may not have it. It’s tough enough on normal days, but at Christmas, the pressure seems more intense to be joyous—to replicate what we see in movies and on greeting cards, believing that if we achieve it, then we will experience joy.
It can be a really hard season for many of us. Three years ago, I was going through a time of utter breaking, the final blow landing on me just before the Christmas season. I wanted to feel differently, but what I felt was broken. Maybe you are “there” now. With all my heart, I want you to know there is hope and you are not alone.
It was during this hard time that I received the greatest gift. I staked my claim on the profound promise in Psalm 34:5 and started practicing a radical trust. I looked to Jesus for help, trusting him to provide, believing that as I did, he would give me true joy—not just a small measure, but so much joy that my face would radiate far brighter than the temporary lights at Christmas.
This is a wonderful season, but true joy is only found in Jesus Christ. There is no shame when we turn to him. We can count on experiencing a joy that radiates the whole year through.