Advent 2025 - Joy

12/14/2025

Philippians 4:4

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.”

Joy is one of the most striking marks of the children of God. Joy in Scripture is deeper than happiness and stronger than sorrow because it is rooted in God Himself. I want to explore what biblical joy is, where it comes from, and how we can walk in it.

God’s Joy is present in every season. Our opening verse makes no sense if joy is just happiness, a feeling produced by good circumstances; it only makes sense if joy is a response to something unwavering – God’s presence, God’s promises, and God’s work in Christ.

During Advent, especially on this Sunday of Joy, we remember that the world’s deepest joy is not found in gifts, parties, or other happenings, but in the news that Luke 2:11gives us, “…unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The question, then, is not simply “How can I feel happier?” but “How can my life be more deeply rooted in this kind of joy?”

First, let us look at the source of our joy. Biblical joy flows from God, from the love and presence of God, from whom God is, and what God has done, not from what is happening around us. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Joy is not just a thing God gives; joy is what surrounds Him. To come closer to God is to come nearer to joy. When we move our awareness from the world and attune with Christ’s infinite love within, we experience the same peace and joy that Jesus embodied.

Joy is anchored in Christ. When Mary visits Elizabeth in Luke 1:44, Elizabeth exclaims that “the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” Even before Jesus is born, His presence causes joy. When the angels appear to the shepherds in Luke 2:10, they declare “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Joy is rooted in God’s nature. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us, “The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness… he will exult over you with loud singing.” God Himself is joyful over His people. We are told in Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” This means that God’s joy in us, and our joy in God, is what holds us together and carries us forward, more than our feelings, our circumstances, or our own limited resources.

Joy springs from salvation, meaning that God rescues us from our darkness, death, and judgment and brings us into a restored relationship with Himself, both now and forever. It is given as a gift in Jesus Christ and received by faith, and initiated by a simple petition: “Lord Jesus, forgive my sins, be my Savior and Lord; I surrender to You.” 

Sorry to say, but we are all sinners. But even that realization is a source of joy, because we are forgiven. In Psalm 51:12, David prays, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” When the reality of being forgiven and restored grows blurry, our joy fades. When it is renewed, joy returns.

Galatians 5:22–23 names joy as a fruit of the Spirit’s work in us. Joy is not something we develop with effort; it is something that Spirit grows within us as we attune to Christ. It begins by asking, “What has God given me in this moment?” Joy is the heart’s “Yes” to ‘what is.’ It is accepting and embracing the life God has given us in this moment, not a life imagined or one we wish for. Joy trusts God’s will, presence, purposes, and gifts in the present moment.

Joy in Scripture is also tied to the kingdom of God – God’s love and law revealed to a broken world. In Romans 14:17 Paul says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Where God’s word is received, joy appears. Whenever hearts submit to Christ, the kingdom’s joy is already showing up.

Yet Scripture also looks forward to a future of complete joy. That is Advent’s horizon: a day when sorrow and sighing are no more; a day when we have fully surrendered our will and hearts to this being of love reborn within us.

Revelation 21:3–4 speaks of that same future day, when God dwells with His people, “… every tear wiped away, death and pain gone.” That is the fullness of joy. For now, we live between “already” and “not yet.” Already, Christ has come, our transgressions have been defeated through the resurrection, Spirit has been poured out, and we can know real joy now.

And ‘not yet.’ Our darkness, fears, and struggles still linger; tears still fall, and we wait for Christ’s appearance in our hearts when joy will be complete. Advent is about waiting, and Advent joy is specifically this in-between joy: the joy that tastes the first fruits of the kingdom while longing for the harvest.

So, how can we open our hearts to this joy? First, we abide in Christ. This means to remain, or stay in a close, on-going relationship with God and Jesus. This includes remaining in His Word. John 15:7 teaches, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

Abiding also means keeping His commandments.  John 15:10 says, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” Abiding can mean resting in His love. John 15:9 tells us, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” As we dwell in Christ’s love, His own joy begins to dwell in us.

We also can open our hearts to God’s joy through gratitude.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 Paul commands, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” Gratitude does not minimize pain; it recognizes grace in the midst of it. Giving thanks trains the eye and heart to see where God is at work. A daily habit of naming specific things for which you thank God – salvation, small provisions, people, God’s promises – creates channels in your heart through which joy can flow.

Create spaces of holy quiet by choosing a regular time each day to sit in stillness before God, without music, phone, or reading, simply repeating a short prayer like “Come, Lord Jesus” or “Here I am.” This kind of silent presence lets our heart rest and listen instead of constantly speaking or planning. Even five minutes of faithful silence each day can change the tone of the whole season.

We can take one brief text and read it very slowly, then close our eyes and sit with that phrase in the silence. Let a line like “The Lord is near,” “Joy is my strength,” or “Do not be afraid” simply rest in our mind and heart without analysis. Read, pause, repeat the verse softly, then fall silent and allow Spirit to press a word or phrase onto our heart. The silence after the reading is where God’s Word often moves most deeply.

Advent emphasizes waiting with confidence on God’s promises rather than rushing to “get everything done.” Consciously naming what we are waiting for – guidance, healing, deeper intimacy with God – and entrusting it to Christ each day helps transform anxiety into watchful hope. In this way, our entire life, not just our mind, learns to lean forward toward the coming Light.

It is my prayer that we experience Advent joy’s transformative power, awakening our divine consciousness even amid darkness, and allowing it to blossom into bliss. I pray that this joy, rooted in God’s presence and love strengthens us, sustains us, heals us, and overflows, turning our hearts into beacons of eternal light. In joy we say, “Come Lord Jesus, come.”