Joy At Christmas Series

To begin our discussion this morning, let’s do a quick, informal congregational survey. I’m going to describe a few scenarios. If the scenario brings you joy, give me a thumbs up. If it brings discomfort, frustration, or sorrow—give me a thumbs down. Just respond honestly.

First scenario: the first time you ever felt the drill in the dentist’s chair.

Second scenario: your honeymoon—or a meaningful vacation with someone you love.

Third scenario: opening a letter from the government informing you that you owe more in taxes than you expected.

Fourth scenario: waking up one morning and realizing—for once—nothing hurts.

Fifth scenario: waking up on Christmas morning and discovering there’s snow on the ground. Some of us love that… and some of us immediately think about shovels and icy roads.

What this little exercise shows us is something we already know: for most of us, joy rises and falls with our circumstances. When life feels good, joy feels natural. When life hurts, joy feels distant.

As Christmas approaches, I can’t help but feel a deep and genuine sense of joy. There is something about this season that stirs memories of some of the most meaningful days of my life. I think, of course, about Christmases past—but my heart also drifts to other moments marked by joy: watching my beautiful bride walk down the aisle, holding my children for the first time, and celebrating my graduation from university. I think about my first job and first pay-cheque, medical tests that confirmed a zero PSA after prostate surgery, and the relief and gratitude that came with making the final payment on our mortgage. And with Christmas drawing near, who among us doesn’t feel joy at the thought of gathering with family—embracing loved ones and listening once again to their stories? Yet above all, my greatest joy comes from remembering the day I was saved and the many moments since when I have walked with God—both in quiet personal fellowship and within the walls of the church He has graciously entrusted me to shepherd. God has been so good to us. Truly, “the joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Praise the Lord.

And yet, as precious as those memories are, I must also confess that life often feels like a pendulum. Joy seems easy to embrace when we dwell on the mountaintops of blessing—but when our thoughts drift into the valleys of tribulation, that joy can feel much harder to hold. Scripture is honest about this reality. King Solomon reminds us that “time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11). Still, some believe that once a person becomes a Christian, life should no longer be marked by difficulty. After all, didn’t Jesus say, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13)? Those words can make it seem as though the pendulum of blessing should never swing back. Yet Scripture quickly grounds us with the truth that Christ is not a genie in a bottle, but a gracious Lord who answers according to His will. He answers prayer not according to our desires, but according to His will — “if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14). God’s goodness is never in question—but our understanding of what is good often needs sanctifying.

So, what are we to say when the pendulum of life swings into the trenches of tribulation? Are we to believe that hardship is proof of weak faith, insufficient prayer, or disobedience to God? If that were true, then why would James instruct believers to “count it all joy… when ye fall into diverse temptations,” knowing that trials produce perseverance and spiritual maturity (James 1:2–4)? And why would the Lord deny the Apostle Paul’s repeated request to remove his thorn in the flesh, instead declaring, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)? Is there not value in suffering? Is not God’s grace enough? Is there not a powerful witness when God’s people stand firmly upon the Rock of their salvation in the middle of the storm, trusting Him completely? And if we never walked through pain, how could we ever “comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4)?

While Christ has made a way to rescue us from eternal death and the curse of sin, we have not yet seen the Garden fully restored. Until that day, life continues to swing between blessing and trial. But this truth should not discourage us—it should force us to examine the true source of our joy. Is not unspeakable joy found in the presence of our Creator, even when circumstances are difficult? Is it not found in fixing our eyes upon the Pearl of great price and the treasure hidden in the field, remembering that when we surrendered the right to rule our lives to Him, He gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)? Today, we will explore a joy that is unspeakable, unshakable, and eternal—a joy found only in the presence of the One who gave His life to set us free (Psalms 16:11).