Finding Joy in Unexpected Places

I love everything about Christmas…the carols, the cookies, the crazy shopping excursions, and the chaos. As a matter of fact, I embrace the chaos. I get entirely stressed out with lists and plans and commitments, and I love. every. single. exhausting. moment.

But the year I battled cancer at Christmas, I knew I would have to scale back. No big baking extravaganza. No crazed holiday shopping sprees. No frantic Christmas party planning. I knew it would have to be simple.

I really struggled with the idea of being content with less. Less time. Less energy. Less fun (in my mind). Which all led to less joy.

Then, in a sermon on joy, our pastor made the following statement:

Joy is not dependent on what happens to us, or around us. It is a result of what has happened in us.

Finding Joy in Unexpected Places | ThereIsGrace.com

Shift in Focus

I’m not sure what he said right after that, because I was stuck on that statement. That truth I could not ignore. Somehow I had forgotten it in the midst of my holiday pity party.

If God is good (and He is)…

If He loves me (and He does, and you, too)…

If He has a plan for me (which He does, and for you, too)…

And, if He is big enough (which He absolutely is)…

Then I can have joy. Not because of my situation. In fact, I can have joy in spite of my circumstances. Because my joy is not based on what happens to me or around me…it’s a result of what God has done in me.

Joy exceeds emotion and sentiment. It is a supernatural result of a supernatural grace.

Shift in Perspective

Suddenly my perspective changed. I started to find joy in the small things…

Like the fact that having treatment the week of Christmas forced me to back down from my normally-chaotic holiday schedule. And slowing down allowed me to find the joy again in Christmas.

After all, isn’t that how joy came that very first Christmas? In the smallest of packages…to the unlikeliest of people…in the most unexpected place…on the most ordinary of days?

No one noticed the young couple who wandered into town.

No one gave a second thought to that manger outside of town where the couple bedded down for the night.

Until…the heavens split wide open with an announcement to a group of roughians on their night watch:

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

That GREAT joy came in the smallest form: a baby born to an unlikely couple on an ordinary day in the most unexpected place.

So, whether you need a little joy to rescue you from the craze of the Season, or you need a lot of joy to outshine the heaviness that overshadows your life at the moment, I pray you find this Good News…this GREAT JOY that has come to Earth. Because in Him, and only in Him, can our joy be complete.

We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy! (1 John 1:3-5, The Message)

 

16 thoughts on “Finding Joy in Unexpected Places

  1. I am so sorry your son was so sick. As a mother I know you were stressed. We hate to see our children suffer. Thank the LORD he is better. LOVE your post!!

    MERRY CHRISTmas and a HAPPY, HEALTHY, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!

  2. Merry Christmas!! So wish we could all be together this Christmas. Thanks for the reminder to seek the true Joy over this Christmas Season.

  3. Merry Christmas! Thank you for your beautiful blog site. Your love for our LORD just comes off the page and sprinkles HIS grace over all who read your heartfelt words. You and your family are in my daily prayers. God bless you all, and my HE grant you healing and a preacful New Year!

    1. Debi, thank you for such kind and thoughtful words. And thank you, most of all, for the prayers. May God bless you and yours this holiday season. ~Nancy

  4. Nancy – when I need encouragement or a moment to focus on what is really important – I know I can find something that resounds in my soul in your writing. So glad you’ve shared your heart here. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
    Monica

    1. Monica, your words overwhelm me for that is my prayer…God would use these words to bring encouragement and truth to others. Thank you for sharing, friend. Many blessings to you! ~Nancy

  5. What an encouraging post. I am so grateful for finding your site through Christian Mommy Blogger. Your pastors quote is one to ponder and so true, as it has not been as joyous of a Christmas season this year. God’s grace and love and mercies has shown through. I’m thankful for all He has done and will continue to do. God’s blessings on the new year ahead.

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