"Joy to the world!" We hear the refrain every Christmas. The old, familiar song suggests that joy has come because the Lord has come. Joy! Think about it. Have you got it?
Most people I talk to these days answer my, "How are you?" question with, "Tired," Busy," "Getting by," "Surviving," "OK," or "Pretty good." Very few seem to exude this joy that we, as Christians, claim to have because the Lord has come.
The Bible actually gives us a blueprint of how to find joy. In poetic language the book of Isaiah tells us why Jesus came to this earth.
"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning...(Isaiah 61:3).
Mourning occurs whenever there is a loss. The losses in our lives are the things that have disintegrated. We may have ashes in our lives from a lost relationship, the death of a loved one, loss of a job or finances... even loss of self-respect. Loss is different for all of us. Yet for all of us, loss represents a sadness in our souls...a lack of true joy...a place where the oil of healing needs to be applied. It is the place where God desires to bring beauty out of our ashes.
Oil is a healing agent, a soothing and smoothing agent. Even plain old vitamin E oil will heal a cut and reduce scar tissue. Jesus tells us He came to bring this kind of healing oil into our lives. His oil can heal our deep hurts and the resulting scars we carry.
Jesus came to this earth to bring that healing. He came to bring beauty out of the ashes in your life. How does it happen? It happens when you acknowledge your losses... the disappointments and sadness you carry in your heart. Ask His forgiveness for the times you have helped cause ashes. Invite Him to come into your life in a fresh way and begin His redeeming work. Opening the places of loss to Him enables Him to come in and bring His healing. As He does, a joy will surface in your soul that is truly a miracle! You can experience "Joy to the world" this Christmas season!
Gail Rodgers