Life can be chaotic. Even in the midst of the Advent season. Actually, especially during the Advent season. It is hard, sometimes it seems impossible, to handle everything that life throws at us. I know that I'm not the only one that struggles to keep my head above water sometimes. The last thing we often think about in our day is our joy, or the joy we are suppose to have.
This week we began to light the joy candle in our home.
Joy has been an ongoing struggle for many people that I know and I'm not immune. The difficulties, pressures, and stresses that come at us (or from within us) can rob us from our joy. This is especially true at this time of the year. We hustle and bustle and find ourselves exhausted and frustrated, worn out and in need of a rest after the holiday that is suppose to be restful. Tell me I'm not the only one!
I know that I am not alone.
Mary the mother of Jesus had every reason to leave her joy at the door of the stable. She was pregnant, but a virgin. She knew and Joseph knew that this was a divine child, one placed in her womb by God himself, but who would have believed her. At such a young age, beginning a life with Joseph, Mary began her life as a social outsider.
Beyond her social status, Mary was giving birth to her first baby. She was away from family, her mother and sisters, midwives, and help of any kind and without even a familiar room or home. She gave birth in a stable which is no woman's dream. When she was finished she had no other place to put her new baby boy except a feeding trough, wood or stone it doesn't matter, animals ate from it. If that is not enough she had immediate visits from shepherds and their sheep (if nativities are historically correct).
The stress and life difficulties mount one on top of another for Mary and yet we find her quietly reflective on an event that would change history, that would change everything. We see Mary resting in a simple promise of God that came to her before even Jesus came to be in her womb: "for no word from God will ever fail".
Mary teaches us three amazing truths about Joy that we need to internalize and live out in this Advent season:
- Our Joy comes from God.
Mary understood even before she saw Jesus that her Joy came from God. Her song shares her thoughts and reality: "my soul rejoices in God my Saviour". Our Joy does not come from things or even experiences that this world has to offer. Our joy comes directly from God through Jesus Christ.
- Our Joy is not dependent on our circumstances or situations.
Even in her state - socially, physically, economically, etc. we see Mary committed to the joy that God has brought into her life. She will not allow the circumstances of her life to dictate her Joy. Notice too that you never see Mary complain. There is no negativity in her heart or in her speech.
- Our Joy is deep and lasting.
"Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart" after the shepherds had come to the amazing sight of the Lord God among them as an infant and worshiped Him. It wasn't a moment come and gone, but something that was worth treasuring, worth considering and rehearsing over and over again. Joy was something that was ruminated over and lasted even until the end on the cross which became only the beginning. Joy is not superficial it is deep and lasting.
The Joy that God brings to us through His son Jesus Christ is awe inspiring. It brought Mary to a place that I want to be - revelling in awesome God given joy. I want to live where that joy is.
