God Hears Her: A Joyful ChristmasExemple

Joy

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden of Eden, joy was lost. God expelled them from Eden to prevent something worse from happening. If they had eaten from the tree of life after eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they would have lived forever in their misery.

Life outside the garden was not easy. Adam and Eve had to work hard for their food. The reality of death was everywhere, and animals preyed on one another. Even worse, the couple’s firstborn son murdered his younger brother. What could be worse? Sin had pierced their lives, and the couple could not stop joy from draining out.

But God had a plan to restore joy for mankind. Joy was lost in the garden when death came, but joy returned through birth—the birth of God’s own Son at Bethlehem. “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10). Jesus grew up to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and raise the dead. But this was just a taste of things to come. Jesus entered our world, experienced our sorrow, and conquered death—giving us hope that He will keep His promise to end pain and eliminate sorrow and death (John 11:25–26; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Revelation 21:4).

No wonder Christmas is the season of joy!

—Julie

Delight in the joy of good news.