The Way to the Manger, Family Advent Devotional Sample

Joy, Joy, Joy 

Joy is a difficult word to understand. Yeah right, you might be thinking to yourself, joy is an easy word to understand. You might think that joy means happy. It does…sort of. But joy is so much more than being happy. Happy is a temporary feeling. When you find a five dollar bill that you thought you had lost, you are happy. When you lose the same bill, you are sad. When you find out your best friend can spend the night, you are happy. When you find out your best friend’s mom said he or she can’t come over, you are sad. 

Joy isn’t an emotion that comes and goes. Joy is something that comes from within you. Even when people are sad, they can still have joy. Happy is an emotion that you feel in your head. Joy is something that you feel in your body. The news that the angel brought was one of joy. It was the news of Jesus Christ. Even though Mary and Joseph were tired, stressed, and staying in a place for animals, they had joy that Jesus had been born. Even as Jesus died on the cross, they could have joy because they knew He was God’s Son. Today, even when bad things happen, you can have joy because you know that Jesus is the Savior and He loves you. 

Dear God, 

Thank You that even when things are bad, I can have joy. Help me remember that even though I won’t always have everything I want, I can have joy. Help me to always be joyful. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Memory Maker 

1. What makes you scared or afraid?

2. What brings you joy?