The Light of Joy

     “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
      Philippians 4:4

In the season of Advent, we have lit the candles of Hope and Peace, on this third Sunday, also known as Gaudete Sunday, we light the pink candle of joy.

Gaudete is Latin for Rejoice and what a time to rejoice, as we await the prophesied moment of God’s great love for His creation.

What greater joy can there be than to know the love of the creator. It is in our precious moments spent with the Lord that we find a fountain head of great joy. Like the author of Psalm 28:7, when we turn to the Lord, our hearts leap for joy.

     “7The Lord is my strength and my shield;
     my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
     My heart leaps for joy,
     and with my song I praise him.”
     Psalm 28:7

It is knowing the love of our God in such abundance that we find hope and peace. Our joy is what opens the flood gates for hope and peace to overwhelm us in a cleansing bath that leads to more rejoicing.

The author and lay minister of the late nineteenth century, Samuel D. Gordon stated:
“Joy is distinctly a Christian word and a Christian thing. It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of what happens of an agreeable sort. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy. He had joy, singing its music within, even under the shadow of the cross.”

Take this moment and reach out to God in prayer. Let Him fill your spirit with the joy that knows no end. Bask in the radiance of His loving embrace that reached all the way from Heaven to a manger and to the Cross. In this season of Advent, trust in the gracious power of our Lord and pray with Paul:

     “13May 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

Even now, Lord, let the light of Your joy spread from us into a dark and broken world.
​
Kathy Hendrix