It was a quiet night, the night Joy entered the world.

Can you imagine being the shepherds who heard the message?

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great JOY for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 (emphasis mine)

Have you ever received a message that brought you joy? Not just a little bit of appreciation about a good event but real deep abiding JOY.

The kind that comes when you hear that a loved one has beaten an illness. Or that you finally have a job.

News like what the shepherds heard was not like hearing a human interest story that touches you and than you move on. This was like receiving news that changes your life forever, permanently, and joyfully.

Like the Joy of hearing your baby cry for the first time.

The Joy of an answered Yes to a proposal.

It was the Joy felt when our Grandparents generation got the news “the war is over, your loved ones are coming home.”

weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5b

We have all endured nights of weeping. Days of weeping. Whole seasons of life of weeping.

But we can hold onto Christ who brings Joy in the Morning!

Because Jesus endured a night of weeping too. But He endured it for a reason.

[Tweet “Christ endured a night of weeping to bring us a morning of #Joy!”]

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 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 (emphasis mine)

What was His Joy? It was you and me.

And our Joy is Him.

The Third Candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy, it is the Shepherd’s Candle. So we remember the message of Joy brought to them on a cold night. A Savoir has been Born.

Our JOY is here.

So open God’s gift of JOY for you today. Because He endured a night of weeping to bring Joy to us. Exult in Him this Christmas! Rejoice and Sing! Revel in His Joy! Go ahead!

Joy to the World! Our Lord has Come!

Merry Christmas!

Joy Aletheia Stevens

Photo Credit: Advent wreath by Chris Wolff (CC BY 2.0)