Joy to the World, the Lord is Come!
Let Earth receive her King.
We’ll sing those celebratory words soon. And mentally, I add “Joy to the World, the Lord will come again!” That is our hope.
As we wait during this Advent to once again mark the birth of Jesus, we also anticipate a future time when He will come in glory and restore all things, a time where He will have ultimate triumph over evil, sickness, and death.
I can be a melancholy person and so, for me, I have to work at joy. I have to try to be more intentional about finding the joy and enjoying the moment, seeing God’s goodness right now, laughing and relaxing, and pausing to breathe in happiness right now.
You may think this is weird, but I have written notes about what music I want played at my funeral, and one of the songs is called “Joy in the Morning.” A couple of years ago, I decided that the only chance I had of having that song actually performed at my funeral is if I made sure my kids all knew the song, so I ordered the sheet music, and our family learned it and sang it together.
The text of that song echoes promises in Revelation and Isaiah, that the earth and humanity will be restored.
Isaiah 35 1-7 says “Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!
The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.
The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.”
Are your hands tired? Are your knees weak? Be encouraged. Rejoice. God will give you strength.
I hope that each of us can anticipate the announcement of Jesus’ birth with pure joy—the joy of a child on Christmas morning, the joy of a parent seeing a newborn for the first time, the joy of knowing that eventually all will be made well because the Savior has come.
This week as we inch closer to Christmas Day, I challenge you to find a time each day to pause and truly enjoy something miraculous that is happening right before your eyes. Linger in the moment and thank God for what you are enjoying.
Ask God to speak to you about what joy you are missing and how to turn your attention more fully to the joy He sends each day.
And if you are a singer, like I am, join with heaven and nature as they sing Joy to the World, because the Lord really has come.
Dear God, the Lord has come and we should be filled with joy that Your glory is around us and available to us, but we are missing it and the darkness sometimes drives our joy away. Help us this Advent season to reclaim the joy that You provide as we anticipate with childlike excitement the announcement of Jesus’ birth. Help us to see Your presence and to rejoice in it each day. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray, Amen.
