“Joy to the World”
Whenever I hear the phrase “Joy to the World” I begin to wonder, what on earth are they talking about?
Recently, I was with a group of friends when I observed a young man standing alone in a corner of the room, sipping a cup of coffee. His head was bowed…., shoulders hunched up to his neck. His facial expression was of sheer sadness. Immediately I recognized signs that something was wrong.. He never looked up…..never spoke to anyone….and his eyes never looked into the eyes of another person in the room.
Slowly I approached the young man and softly said “how’s it going Jerry? He appeared startled that anyone would even talk to him. As I looked into his eyes, I could feel the pain he was feeling….and had been feeling for many months. Yes, he had a very sad story to tell, of a very sad and solitary life. Nothing seemed to go right for him. Nobody seemed to care about him. Yes, he was a loner and he was hurting.
Often, during the Holiday season, we experience feelings of loneliness, depression and sadness. Often, we try to hide these feelings by not communicating with others. We go into our shell. We have our pity party. But then, we seem to sink deeper into our loneliness, depression and sadness. Where is the joy of this Holiday season? Where is the love and caring of this Holiday season.
But the words of Jesus seem to echo in our ears “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.” “Come unto me, all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
What does that gibberish really mean, you might ask? Well, it simply means that you don’t have to live a life of depression, sadness, loneliness and rejection. The Word tells us we can live happily and have fulfilled lives when we’ keep our minds stayed on Him for He loves us’. I’ve been where Jerry was…..and yes it is painful.
But I have found that thru prayer and meditation, I was lifted out of that sad state of affairs. I took my eyes off myself and focused on Him and the needs of others. I became God’s helping hands here on earth. Then and only then did I feel the joy….the real joy of the Holiday season . I am a new creature.
Let us Pray:
Dear God, it has been a rough year. But I know you love me and walk with me each and every day. I thank you for giving me the strength to overcome my problems because You are my problem solver. I now know what the real “Joy” of this season means….. Loving you and loving others as I give ‘Joy to the world.’
Amen