Take the Christmas story in Luke 2. It starts out with hardship: a government mandate forcing Mary and Joseph to travel miles on foot while she’s ready to give birth. They arrive in Bethlehem only to find there’s no place to stay. So there’s no midwife, no clean blanket, just a barn and a feeding trough. Can you imagine their exhaustion and frustration?

But there’s more to the story. While Mary and Joseph struggle through their longest night, shepherds in a nearby field hear an angel’s proclamation: “I bring you good news of great joy!” (Luke 2:10). That joy wasn’t tied to Mary and Joseph’s circumstances or the shepherds’ social standing. It came from a truth bigger than all of them: a Savior had been born, and His coming changed everything.

The joy of Christmas doesn’t ignore hardship; it shines through it. Think about it: joy didn’t remove the shepherds from their fields or Mary and Joseph from their struggles, but it gave them hope and purpose right in the middle of it all. And it does the same for us.

Joy Isn’t Passive—It’s a Pursuit

The shepherds didn’t sit around waiting for joy to find them. When the angels shared the good news, they acted. “Let’s go!” they said. And they rushed to find Jesus (Luke 2:15-16).

Sometimes, joy requires the same urgency from us. We can’t expect it to show up when all our problems disappear. We have to move toward Jesus—the source of all joy—with haste, especially when joy feels far away.

Where is your joy today? Are you stuck in the “messy middle,” driving through life with the narrow view of a frosted-over windshield? Maybe it’s time to scrape the ice, to stop focusing solely on the trouble in front of you and start seeing the bigger picture: God is still at work.

Joy Changes Us

Joy doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances. In fact, Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:4 to “rejoice in the Lord always.” Not when things are easy. Not when we feel like it. Always. Why? Because God’s joy lifts us when we cannot lift ourselves.

This joy isn’t just an emotion; it’s a gift from God that strengthens our trust in Him and deepens our love for others. It empowers us to face trials with courage and gratitude. And it turns us outward—like the shepherds—to share good news with the world around us.

Let the Bells Ring

In our service, we rang joy-bells to celebrate what God has done: lives transformed, faith restored, burdens carried. Those bells weren’t just for show—they were a symbol of something deeper. Joy gives us a voice to thank God, no matter how things turn out. It reminds us that even in sorrow, we can still raise songs of praise.

So, let your heart sing. Let your voice proclaim the joy of the Lord. Let the bells ring for every blessing, every trial overcome, every moment of grace. Because no matter what you’re facing today, joy is yours to claim.

A Joy That Endures

This Advent season, don’t wait for the world to be made new before you rejoice. Run to the source of joy—Jesus. Let Him meet you where you are. And as you do, let joy shine through your life, a light that breaks through the darkness and points others to Him.

By Pastor Tim