Day 2: Daily Joy

I struggled through high school. Between raging acne, poor dating skills, and a variety of insecurities, sometimes I felt quite depressed. Yet without even trying, I often felt that God was near to me, and loved me. God's presence sparked joy in my heart.

As I read through the Bible as a teenager, I especially cherished the book of Philippians. For many years, I treasured Philippians 4:4 as my favorite verse in the Scriptures, and I often meditated on it.

But a couple of years ago, after enduring an intensely painful season of spiritual abuse, my heart was pulverized, and I felt emotionally dead inside. Over a long period of time, with the help of a patient counselor, I regained a deeper connection to the full breadth of my emotions: anger, gratitude, fear, surprise, disgust, and yes, joy. I sat at the feet of the Psalmists as they mentored me to honestly bring my full self into God's presence.

This experience raised a new question for me: how can Paul command constant rejoicing? Isn't that an oppressive burden for the already weary and broken?

During Advent, we see God honoring the full range of emotions. After Herod angrily orders the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem, we're told that Jeremiah's prophecy is fulfilled. The town weeps for their children, and they refuse to be consoled (see Matthew 2:16-18). Yet a few pages later, in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, he tells his disciples to "be glad and rejoice" when they suffer persecution (Matthew 5:10-12).

Does the Bible contradict itself? Only if we read it in a wooden, literalistic manner.

Advent brings joy in the darkness. We all suffer. We all struggle. One day, we all die. What do we do with our pain? We often choose to stuff it, deny it, or endure it.

But what if God is near? Paul wrote Philippians from prison. He knew hunger and deprivation. For preaching the gospel, he was beaten, shipwrecked, and stoned. Yet he continued to rejoice because he lived with Christ, and saw Christ glorified!

At Advent, we celebrate that Jesus came to us—whatever our circumstances.

In faith, may we receive the gift of his presence, and rejoice.