The Source of Unshakeable Joy
"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'" - Luke 2:10-11
Have you ever noticed how easily we let small things shape our mood? I remember growing up in Texas and being a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, this was easy, they were champions!
But over the years, being a Cowboys fan has meant learning to live with disappointment. I’d watch a game on Sunday, and if they lost, I’d carry that frustration with me for days. If they won, I was the life of the party. My mood depended on the outcome of a football game. Sound familiar?
Maybe for you, it’s not about a team winning or losing. It could be how someone treats you, whether things go your way, or how your day goes at work. If things are smooth, you feel on top of the world. But if things are hard, your joy seems to vanish. And yet, God never intended for joy to be that fragile or dependent on circumstances. Real joy was designed to be rooted in something far more secure: Jesus.
This kind of joy doesn’t mean everything will go our way, nor does it mean we’ll be happy every moment. Life has ups and downs, and we’re allowed to feel them. But joy isn’t shaken by those ups and downs because its source is unchanging. The angel’s message to the shepherds wasn’t just good news about a happy day, it was news of a lasting joy that came with Jesus, a joy that transcends any situation.
If you find yourself saying, “When times are good, I’m good. But when they’re bad, so am I,” maybe you’re anchoring your joy to things that shift and change. Let this Christmas remind you of the joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances. Jesus came so you could have a joy that endures through anything. This joy allows you to feel the weight of life without letting it steal your peace. Let Him be your source, and let your joy come from the One who never changes.
Have you ever noticed how easily we let small things shape our mood? I remember growing up in Texas and being a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan. In the late ’80s and early ’90s, this was easy, they were champions!
But over the years, being a Cowboys fan has meant learning to live with disappointment. I’d watch a game on Sunday, and if they lost, I’d carry that frustration with me for days. If they won, I was the life of the party. My mood depended on the outcome of a football game. Sound familiar?
Maybe for you, it’s not about a team winning or losing. It could be how someone treats you, whether things go your way, or how your day goes at work. If things are smooth, you feel on top of the world. But if things are hard, your joy seems to vanish. And yet, God never intended for joy to be that fragile or dependent on circumstances. Real joy was designed to be rooted in something far more secure: Jesus.
This kind of joy doesn’t mean everything will go our way, nor does it mean we’ll be happy every moment. Life has ups and downs, and we’re allowed to feel them. But joy isn’t shaken by those ups and downs because its source is unchanging. The angel’s message to the shepherds wasn’t just good news about a happy day, it was news of a lasting joy that came with Jesus, a joy that transcends any situation.
If you find yourself saying, “When times are good, I’m good. But when they’re bad, so am I,” maybe you’re anchoring your joy to things that shift and change. Let this Christmas remind you of the joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances. Jesus came so you could have a joy that endures through anything. This joy allows you to feel the weight of life without letting it steal your peace. Let Him be your source, and let your joy come from the One who never changes.
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