I love this time of year. This is a time of year we can take advantage of these common graces of God because they are His gift to all men.
James 1:17 NIV [17] Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
True joy, however isn’t only reserved only for the holiday season. The joy that I’m talking about, came into the world with the birth of Jesus. We celebrate that birth on Christmas day. Unbelievers, and those who don’t recognize Jesus as Savior and those that don’t believe that He even existed still celebrate on Christmas and they celebrate with excitement and joy.
True joy doesn't require hoop jumping, budget-blowing, or running on fumes. True joy doesn’t depend on parties and great meals with family and friends that end after the party or meal and for sure ends on January 2nd of the next year.
The angel told Joseph the the baby that Mary would deliver would be God with us
Matthew 1:21-23 NIV [21] She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” [22] All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: [23] “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”)(emphasis mine).
True joy is found in the presence of the Lord
Psalms 16:11 NIV [11] You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
However this joy is reserved for believers only because believers always have the presence of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV [13] And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
For the nonbeliever, the joy they experience during this season is based on feelings, and material things and these things, at best, offer only fleeting pleasures, that will pass away, ultimately leaving them dissatisfied and searching for more.
The dictionary defines joy as "the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation." With this definition, we could say that "happiness" and "joy" are interchangeable. But that’s not the kind of joy I’m talking about.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a Jesuit biologist and philosopher, once wrote, “Joy is the infallible sign of the presence of God.” The unbeliever and quite often the believer confuses happiness and joy. We think that both happiness and joy are found in pleasure, security and prosperity. Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness vanishes when things get tough; joy continues and may even grow when things get tough.
When we focus on the love of Jesus and not the circumstance we realize that the joy of the Lord is our strength. While we may not be, happy because we spent too much on Christmas presents, or the holiday gathering didn’t go as we planned, we can still have joy.
Our joy should rise above circumstances. This joy is not produced by something external that makes us feel happy. It is supernatural result of a life filled with the Holy Spirit of the living God.
Joy is more than happiness. The word happiness comes from the root hap, which means “chance.” Where happiness is circumstantial, joy is not. Joy is an unshakeable confidence in the truths of God despite circumstances.” - From God’s Word for Life for Mothers
During the Christmas season, we celebrate the birth of the Savior. We celebrate Immanuel, God with us. His Spirit is inside of you. His presence dwells with His people. And in His presence is fullness of joy.
Psalms 16:11 NIV [11] You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
So as you seek out ways to celebrate and enjoy this season. Remember that true joy, lasting joy, comes from the presence of God. This is our source of true joy this Christmas and beyond.