The Promise of Joy

AM: Psalm 23,121 • Job 42:1-6 • 1 Peter 1:3-9
PM: Psalm 27 • Isaiah 43 • 8-13 • John 14:1-7

We are in the Advent Season, but mired here in 2020, I sometimes have trouble anticipating anything good. But today’s Advent scriptures remind me of two things: joy and salvation are there for me NOW, but if I am to attain it, I must enter into the covenant. For my part, I must believe it is possible, REALLY believe it.

Most of us who have lived long enough have come to realize that we can’t depend on this old world, sublime as it can be, to give us real happiness, or joy. Our true source of joy is internal. It is not dependent upon politics, order, physical comfort, or freedom from illness or danger. “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just and I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 14: 10-11).

How can the apostle Paul, travel-weary, beaten, persecuted, imprisoned, claim joy? But he does, time after time. The same can be asked of all of the disciples. And we have so many witnesses, many of them our friends and acquaintances, who are joyful even while “walking through the valley of the shadow of death.”

This is the season for celebrating the gift that is the source of true joy. And we don’t really have to wait for it. We just have to reach for it, now. I think it might be a pretty good year after all.

Written by Grimsley Graham

…who is anticipating joy.