This Advent our house has been thrown into chaos. We have a new puppy, Colin, a 14-week-old border terrier. He arrived by storm and the comfortable routine my husband and I had enjoyed was suddenly thrown up in the air and the peace we had enjoyed in the house is no more. Chaos now reigns instead, especially first thing in the morning, when our bundle of energy is at his best! No more ‘lie ins’ for me as I try to get him into a routine, but by the time the coffee is made, the living room is like a war zone as our bundle of energy charges about, flinging toys in the air along with anything else he can reach and get his teeth into! So much energy for such a little dog! Certainly, there is very little peace, and I can’t even imagine adding a Christmas Tree into the mix!
But the joy that this little bundle of energy has brought us already far outweighs all the work he has created for us since he came. He is loyal and loving, funny and fearless in equal measures.
But no matter what we do in our lives we can only know true joy by following Jesus in God’s plan for us.
As we come to Advent and Christmas each year we think and talk about the hope, the joy, the peace, and love of the season. We are reminded of the joy surrounding Jesus’ birth and the invitation to experience that joy as we follow Him. We are also reassured of the purest of joy that is to come when we finally join Him in heaven. Tangible, unadulterated, pure, consistent, continuous, and never ending.
There will be many things and many people that can disrupt our joy in life. So many things in the world will try to scare us, trouble us, or weigh us down.
But we are reassured by words from Romans about God’s plan for us.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Romans 15:13
God promises us true, sincere joy which is unique and satisfying and can only be found in His presence by following Him. It is lasting and can withstand any circumstance. This Christmas, thank Jesus for the joy of this season and embrace it in your heart allowing it to fill your life with complete joy. Set aside time to spend with the Holy Spirit, building trust in God so that in turn you can share that joy with others.
Kathy Shaw