Let the Joy Bells Ring
Today is the third Sunday of Advent and we should be singing “Go Tell It on the Mountain”! Well, not necessarily from a mountain. That would mean we’d have to go climbing! Perhaps we can start right here at ground zero to be joy-filled and full of the good news of Christ’s coming to this earth for you and me.
The pink, third candle on the Advent wreath is lit today. The pink candle symbolizes rejoicing and being full of joy. You might be saying: “Easy for you to say, Donna! But not me. I am overwhelmed with sadness and misery and discouragement.”
Oh, but wait just a minute. Let’s hear what Paul the Apostle wrote during his imprisonment in Rome. His closing remarks stressed the importance of peace, JOY, contentment, and God’s everlasting provision. He had the good sense to tell us: “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)
Whether we are on the mountain top – boasting about our ability to climb to the summit and are downright happy we made it. Or, whether we are still hanging out in the valley of despair, we should take those “rejoice” words to heart. Despite the worries and woes, we can still sing by faith, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy – down in my heart to stay!”
Let’s think about the dark, cold, damp prison cell of Paul. He set the pace to the mountaintop and the pace in the valley for us. He showed us that no matter where we are or what we’re facing, we, too, can find JOY in the good news of Emmanuel — God with us.
Of course, PINK would be the color of the day. Typically, PINK is considered girly. But pink isn’t just about girls. Hot pink, pale pink, rose pink are all shades of pink that God painted into a sunrise. And, like the various shades of pink, our expressions of joy can be so different.
Joy can be exuberant – like that little child jumping up and down at something that excites them so much. JOY is also that calm and peaceful experience of God’s faithfulness. It can be calm confidence in His sovereignty, or pure delight as He expresses His love.
That joy that should never be determined by how we feel, but on WHO God is. The joy of the Lord can thrill us AND it can make us steadfast in the secure knowledge of God’s presence with us — Emmanuel.
Paul continues with his joyful self by declaring in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice always” and Jesus tells us in Mark 9:24 “With God all things are possible.” THAT combination of trust and joy should help us carry on from this 3rd Sunday of Advent to being joy-filled every day!
I think I’ll put on my happy face and fill my cup with overflowing joy today. Too blessed to be stressed. Too joy-filled to be gloom-filled. We have a choice to make. Either to sing “gloom, despair and agony on me” OR “This is the day the Lord has made; I will REJOICE and be glad in it!”
We can turn those “blues” songs to the “joy” songs right here and now. Come on – belt it out with me: “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart to stay!”