Joy at Christmas
Pastor Todd Blansit
New Life Church
December 17, 2023

No doubt some in this room or online are experiencing a darkness in an area of your life that is overwhelming.

The word "joy" occurs 218 times in the Bible.

There is a familiar verse in James that humanly doesn’t seem to make much sense.

Knowing that God is doing something specific in our lives and that He is doing what is best for us helps us respond with genuine joy. Life’s trials are certainly not fun, but we can react to those painful situations with joy if we understand that God is demonstrating His love for us through those circumstances.

There is a BIG difference between joy and happiness.

Happiness is great, but we can get happiness from a lot of things, even earthly things. Joy, on the other hand, is a long-lasting state of being. Joy is promised by God and something we should strive towards.

It’s possible to experience joy in difficult times. It’s possible to know joy or feel joy in spite of grief or uncertainty. Joy doesn’t need a smile in order to exist.
Although joy does feel better with a happy smile, joy can share space with other emotions; sadness, fear, anger, and even unhappiness. Happiness can’t.

So, these guys were actually early evangelists of sorts; spreading the good news to others is another noteworthy part of their story and also something that we are also called to do in our own lives

Their Joy was contagious.