As I thought more about the story my father-in-law shared during Christmas, I reflected on these verses.
"A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you; Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." John 16:21, 22
As our family talked about the day when Jesus was born, we talked about the joy of seeing a newborn baby and how Jesus was bringing joy to those that experienced him even as small as He was-The awe of the shepherds, the amazement of the wise men and the joy of Mary and Joseph. We can be reminded, that even in this world we can still experience the joy of Jesus, no matter the circumstances of our lives. Maybe we have dealt with grief this year, we have felt the pain of heartache and experienced loss, but as we continue to seek the Lord Jesus again and again, our joy can be restored!
Let the joy of the Lord Jesus be your strength this coming New Year!
