ADVENT CANDLE OF JOY

Don’t let Christmas Leave You Empty — Instead of Filled with Joy

Christmas only comes once a year, but true joy is eternal

“I’ll be glad when Christmas is over.”

That is what you hear people saying even before the first Christmas gift is opened.

Where is our Christmas spirit? Where has the joy and excitement of Christmas gone?

If we are not careful, we let the rushing, planning, preparation, and business of Christmas rob us of our joy.

Why doesn’t the joy of this blessed holiday last?

It is sad that after Christmas, too many people feel empty. They are not among those singing, “Christmas it’s the happiest time of the year.”

What if we are looking for joy — in all the wrong places?

The joy of Christmas is eternal, spiritual, and lasting because of the real reason for celebrating Christmas. The reason for the season is Jesus.

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” (Luke 2:10–11, NKJV).

The joy of experiencing a personal relationship with God by coming to know the baby Jesus, God’s Son, who grew to be a man and died for our sins on the cross so that we can be forgiven and able to claim the promise of going to heaven when we die — can not be found anywhere else.

The festivities, parties, music, and excitement of the Christmas holidays do not last.

Jesus said, “… I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV).

The joy that the Christ Child of Christmas can bring to you is not a dream, a fairy tale, or just a good feeling. It is a transformation of your life when you put your faith in Jesus.

And then, the Joy of knowing and living for Him will remain, even when the Christmas music has faded into the night.