Written by Jenna Coutts

I am so honored to have been asked to write and share with y’all. When Kallie asked what topic I wanted to write about, I knew immediately- joy. It’s a no-brainer for me. Joy is something that I love to talk about. I named my photography business Joy Unspeakable, so yes, I want to share with others the joy that I have and that they can have too!

One of the big things that Kallie really wants to share in this Christmas season is what the point of Advent and Christmas is. Yeah, it’s fun to open your chocolate calendar each day and indulge in some chocolately goodness. Unfortunately, this is one of the many things we have created that distracts from the true meaning of Christmas. I’m not hating on the chocolate calendar [I love me some chocolate], but I hope, that as you eat that yummy chocolate, you consider what this season is about.

Joy is one of those things.

The joy that a Savior is coming. He has come! And now we get to rejoice that He is coming again.

When we celebrate Christmas, the true meaning of Christmas, we are celebrating that a Savior is coming. [Sweet baby Jesus is about to be born!] He is coming to teach, love, and most importantly, defeat death and be the ultimate sacrifice.

What a joyful occasion!

Now, what is joy?

Dictionary.com defines joy as “the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.”

That something exceptionally good and satisfying is the Lord, Jesus Christ. If you believe that Jesus is the son of God, and that He died to save you, you have this joy.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The joy set before Jesus was that he was defeating death, being the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, and that when it was finished, He got to go home to God.

I have 2 challenges for you:

It’s not always easy to experience the emotions of great delight and happiness when you’re focused on your to-do list, work, getting the kids from a to b, making dinner, cleaning, grocery shopping, writing papers, studying, your loud neighbors, etc.

1. Look for the good in each situation. To-do list— find joy in the fact that you have the means to complete your to-do list (you can walk, write, see, hear, have money to buy things). Work- you have a job! You bring home a paycheck to provide for yourself and family. Shuffling kids around- be joyful that you have beautiful children, a car to get them to and from activities, your loving spouse who helped create those beautiful children. Making dinner- find joy in that you could afford to buy the ingredients, that you have a stove/oven/microwave and a roof over your head. Get the point? In every overwhelming, exhausting, anxiety inducing situation, look for the Lord in it, find the blessings in your life, and choose joy!

Joy is not something that is just going to happen. You have to choose it.

2. Share with someone the joy that you have found in the Lord. Share the true meaning of Christmas and why it is a joyous occasion!