Can You Turn A Frown Upside-down?

Hello weekend readers. On this 34rd Advent devotion we find the word ‘JOY’ or, in the Hebrew it is χαρά or ‘Chara’. Let’s explore ‘JOY’ which is a word in almost every Christmas hymn or contemporary song. Yet, often the ‘JOY’ we seek for Christmas seems elusive. Why?

In our language, if you’re in a good mood, good place in your life, etc., it presents itself as happy, cheerful, maybe even joyful. But Biblical JOY is so much more than happy feelings. It’s a lasting emotion that comes from the choice to trust that God will fulfill his promises. For instance, in Genesis 1 God says that this world is “very good” so we find joy in beautiful and the good things of life.  In Psalm 104 it says a good bottle of wine is God’s gift “to bring joy to people’s hearts.” Think of Jesus changing the water into wine at his friend’s wedding—good wine was a joy for all who were there!

Our human history however, isn’t just a joy-fest because we live in a world that’s been corrupted by our own selfishness. It’s marked by death and loss, and this is where biblical faith offers God’s ‘JOY’ which is an attitude God’s people adopt, not because of their happy circumstances but because of their hope in God’s love and promise. Without that hope there would be no joy.

What did the angels say to the shepherds that Christmas night?

“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” [Luke 2:10-11 NLT]

Another time of Joy from the Bible is Zacchaeus. A scoundrel whom Jesus asked to come down from the tree because He was going to Zacchaeus’ home. One would think Zacchaeus would shrink back knowing his past, but he heard Jesus’ teaching and he came down out of that tree and “took Jesus to his house in great excitement and JOY.”

And on Jesus’ resurrection, He commissioned his followers to go out and announce the good news that He is risen. As they shared, the early Christian communities were often said by others, “these people are full of joy!” Even in their persecution they lived the Joy of the Lord.

A lot of us have dogs or cats, or other loving animals that bring us joy. When Al and I come home our big LabraDane, Moose, acts just like Zacchaeus—he comes at a whirlwind wherever he was, and then twirls around, yodels and gives us kisses. His joy becomes our joy as well.

Some folks struggle with joy right now. God’s joy is not telling us to ignore or suppress our sorrows, that would be unhealthy. The Apostle Paul often expressed his grief about missing loved ones or losing friends or his own freedom. His words can be something for us when we are seeking joy: He called this “being full of sorrow and yet rejoicing.” He acknowledged his pain but he also made the choice to trust Jesus that his loss wouldn’t be the final word and, in that trust, he had the eternal promise of the Joy of the Lord.

It is said that the pain many people wrestle with at Christmas is some of the hardest pain ever. It’s not easy to “turn that frown upside-down” when we experience hardships, loss, and so much more. The family dinner, the pictures on the wall, even the inability to even make it ‘home’ for the holidays, hit many of us hard and our Christmas smile is more like a frown. Our friends and family try cheering us up but it’s not always what we need or want.

This is when we remind ourselves of the truth of Biblical JOY. That JOY is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love. In fact, JOY truly can only come from place…God! So, as we approach Christmas, let’s choose to earnestly seek Jesus, who is waiting to embrace us with the true ‘JOY’ our souls yearn far. AMEN.