The Advent of Christ - Comfort and Joy

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

In preparation to write this unexpected devotional for the week of Joy in this season of Advent, I took a moment to simply “be still.” My prayer asked the Holy Spirit to give me the message He wanted me to share, and when I opened my eyes, they rested on a sign in our home that simply says, “comfort and joy.” Normally sung during the Christmas season in the lyrics of a Christmas carol, these words are displayed in our home year-round.

Comfort can be easily felt. We find comfort in the things of Christmas. We find comfort in things like aged and cherished ornaments, worn and weathered decorations that have been displayed year after year, and even old family recipes that find their way to the Christmas table. These things comfort us because they are familiar, special, hold memories, and we love them.

There is something comforting about the names of Jesus too, especially at Christmas. We hear them repeated in songs, written on Christmas cards, and spoken of in Isaiah 9:6. This verse reminds us that Jesus had a purpose for being born; we know that by looking at His descriptive names. These descriptions are powerful. They are filled with meaning. They describe our great God. But the one thing I love about all the names of our Lord in this verse is that they are comforting.

Joy can feel more elusive if we look for it anywhere other than the cross.

The joy that was birthed when Jesus was birthed is an incredible joy that we want to be birthed in our souls so deep that it isn’t based on circumstances or stuff, events, or people around us. More than the merriment and festivity of the Christmas season, we want that deep-seated joy of Jesus to infuse us, body, soul, and mind.

Our truest joy comes to us through our relationship with Him. None of us, including His mother, Mary, can be saved without the baby who came to die on the cross for us. He could only have gone through a life of humiliation, rejection, and abandonment because of the joy ahead. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2, NIV). The joy in knowing that He could (did) make a way for each of us to come to the Father through Him so that we could one day be with Him forever—to be joint heirs with Him—that joy was found in the most perfect kind of comfort there could ever be.

So, when we light the third Advent candle, the pink candle, the candle of JOY, we light it for the joy that is ahead of us. More than anything, we want the joy of Mary, the angels, and the shepherds, but even more, we want the joy that comes from following Jesus, knowing that one day we will see him face-to-face and receive all that He has been planning for us.

Life may not feel comforting or joyful for you right now, but you do not walk alone or abandoned. As Christ followers we have the confidence that not only has Jesus walked ahead of us, experiencing our pain and despair, He walks with us today and we are never alone. He encourages us to lean on Him and receive from Him what we need for each day.

Comfort and Joy. This Advent season, may you feel the comfort and warmth of the season, and may your heart overflow with the joy of Christ – bringing light, life, and hope to others.