You ever notice how December has some of the most ridiculous emotional swings of the whole year? One minute you’re sipping peppermint mocha feeling festive… next minute you’re one burned batch of cookies away from throwing the whole tree in the yard.
Everybody talks about Christmas joy like it’s automatic — like the moment you plug in the lights, angels descend and you suddenly love all your relatives again.
Sometimes December feels less like joy and more like spiritual whiplash.
But here’s the truth:
Joy was never meant to be something you feel because everything’s perfect.
Joy is something you choose because Christ is present.
That’s joy uncluttered — joy not buried under stress, expectations, or chaos, but joy rooted in Jesus Himself.
LUKE 2:15–20 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen…
Look at these guys.
They go from:
• terrified
to
• running
to
• worshipping
to
• telling everybody
That’s joy.
Not because their circumstances changed.
Not because their work got easier.
Not because someone Venmo’d them Christmas gift money.
But because they encountered Jesus.
Joy is the overflow of seeing Jesus clearly.
I. JOY STARTS WHEN YOU MOVE TOWARD JESUS
Verse 15 — “Let’s go to Bethlehem…”
These shepherds didn’t sit around waiting for joy to fall from the sky like Costco coupons. They moved.
They acted on God’s word.
They pursued Jesus.
Joy doesn’t hit you like a surprise tackle.
You step into it.
James 4:8 — “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
Psalm 16:11 — “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”
You want joy?
You gotta walk toward the One who is joy.
Illustration: “THE MAN WHO TRAINED FOR A MARATHON… FROM HIS COUCH”
There was this guy who bragged to everyone that he was training for a marathon. Oh, he talked a big game. He read all the articles. Watched all the motivational videos. Joined the runner’s Facebook groups. He even bought the fancy shoes — the ones that cost so much you gotta take out a small loan.
Only one problem…
He never actually ran.
Not a mile.
Not a block.
Not even to the mailbox.
But every time someone asked how his training was going, he’d say, “Oh, I’m getting there. I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
Well, race day rolls around. He shows up looking fresh and clean — because he hadn’t broken a sweat in six months — and the moment that starter pistol fired, he took off like a champ…
For about 20 feet.
Then reality punched him harder than a linebacker baptizing someone in the Spirit. His legs locked. His lungs cried. His soul tried to exit his body. Why?
Because thinking about training isn’t training. Reading about running ain’t running. WISHING for endurance doesn’t build endurance.
You get better by doing, not dreaming.
Faith isn’t a spectator sport. You can read the Bible, listen to sermons, post inspirational verses — but spiritual muscle only grows when you use it. When you pray. When you serve. When you forgive. When you obey even when it’s not comfy.
Just like that man learned the hard way:
You don’t get better by thinking about it. You get better by doing it.
You don’t get joy by hoping for it — you get joy by moving toward Jesus.
II. JOY MULTIPLIES WHEN YOU SHARE IT
Verse 17 — “When they had seen Him, they spread the word…”
The moment they saw Jesus, they started talking about Him.
Joy gets louder when you spread it around.
You ever notice how when God does something good, you feel it twice — once when it happens, and again when you testify about it?
Joy is contagious — but only if you open your mouth.
Acts 4:20 — “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Psalm 71:23 — “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You.”
Sometimes your joy is waiting on your testimony.
III. JOY DEEPENS WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN AND REFLECT
Verse 19 — “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them…”
Mary did the opposite of the shepherds.
They ran.
She reflected.
Both are holy.
Mary pondered.
She didn’t rush through the moment.
She didn’t clutter her mind with noise.
She didn’t scroll.
She sat with what God was doing.
Some of us would have more joy if we would just slow down.
Isaiah 30:15 — “In quietness and trust is your strength.”
Psalm 46:10 — “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Joy grows roots in stillness.
IV. JOY IS NOT CIRCUMSTANTIAL — IT’S SPIRITUAL
Verse 20 — “The shepherds returned… glorifying and praising God.”
Returned WHERE?
To the same fields.
Same job.
Same problems.
Same boss.
Same paycheck.
The only thing different…
was them.
Because joy doesn’t come from what’s around you — it comes from Christ inside you.
John 15:11 — Jesus said, “I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”
Nehemiah 8:10 — “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Joy is not emotional sugar.
Joy is spiritual strength.
You don’t feel your way into joy.
You choose your way into it.
V. JOY REQUIRES UNCLUTTERING
Joy gets buried under:
• perfectionism
• pressure
• busyness
• comparison
• people-pleasing
• unrealistic holiday expectations
Sometimes the problem isn’t that you don’t have joy — it’s that it’s been smothered under too much December nonsense.
Hebrews 12:1 — “Let us throw off everything that hinders…”
Unclutter the joy.
Clear the noise.
Make room.
CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK
1. Choose one joy-killer to throw out.
(comparison… overcommitment… overthinking… fear… people-pleasing)
2. Choose one joy-builder to practice.
(worship… testify… quiet time… gratitude list… serving someone)
3. Do one thing daily to move toward Jesus.
Read. Pray. Worship. Talk to Him.
Step onto the mat.
4. Share one joy-story with someone this week.
When you share joy, it multiplies.
Because joy isn’t something the world gives — and praise God — it’s not something the world can take away.
This is JOY UNCLUTTERED.
