“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2: 10 -11).”
All of our hearts need more room for the joy that God wants to pour into it. Even when happy isn’t happening, joy is still possible. The joy that God has for us isn’t a result of our circumstances, it’s the remedy for them. That joy is what makes it possible to move through challenging times to better ones.
The angel didn’t announce a change in the shepherds’ present circumstances, he promised a change in their future ones. If you know that no matter how hard things are right now, it’s not always going to be like this. That the present is not permanent… As we pause to celebrate in this season, know this; good news of joy has been brought to you and to all people.
How does the birth of Jesus bring joy in spite of the fact that our circumstances are still difficult and challenging? Because the birth of Jesus is the proof that the present is not permanent. And that’s the joy the angel is promising. It’s a joy that invades the present and also points to the future.
That’s the good news that brings great joy! The birth of Jesus means we are loved, that our sins can be forgiven, that we are not alone and that even our pain can have purpose in God’s hands. So, today let’s rest in that good news with joy. It’s for you, your family and loved ones, now and in the future.