The Gift of Joy

Bad news sells. It’s the currency of our culture. We scroll for it, share it, and even expect it. Fear runs the headlines of earth, but not of heaven. The night Jesus was born, heaven flipped the script. No scandal, no sorrow, just good news of great joy!

When you ask a group of people if they’d rather hear the good news or the bad news first, most will say, “Give me the bad news; let’s just get it over with.” I never understood that. I’ve always wanted the good news first; I’d rather start with hope and let it change how I face the hard stuff.

The night Jesus was born, the shepherds out in the fields didn’t get bad news; they got the good news alone. Heaven’s messengers lit up the sky with one of the most life-changing announcements in history: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all the people.” Before the miracles, before the sermons, before the cross, the very first word about Jesus was joy.

The angel’s announcement reveals an essential aspect of God’s character. He didn’t begin His rescue mission with thunder, judgment, or a long list of rules. He started with joy. It was His way of saying, “I want you to know who I am. I am the God who delights to bring good news, not bad news. I am the God who sends My Son to bring joy, not despair.”

Joy is written into every line of the Christmas story. Mary lifted her voice in the Magnificat, declaring, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child within her leaped for joy. And when the shepherds heard the angel’s announcement, they hurried to Bethlehem, their hearts filled with wonder. Joy wasn’t an afterthought in the Christmas story; it was the soundtrack playing beneath it all.

Fast forward, our hearts still long for joy. Everywhere we turn, people are searching for it, through success, entertainment, or relationships. And yet, despite all our chasing, joy still feels out of reach. During the Christmas season, when expectations run high, many people feel the opposite: loneliness, sorrow, or exhaustion.

Luke 2:10 serves as a beautiful reminder. Joy is not something we have to manufacture; it’s not dependent on everything going right. True joy is a gift found in the presence of God, not the perfection of our circumstances. It’s a joy that proves stronger than grief, a joy that shines in the dark, and a joy that cannot be taken away.

I’ll never forget one Christmas Eve when joy felt distant, like a word that belonged to someone else. The days felt heavy, questions lingered, and the season rang hollow. As the lights dimmed in the church and candles flickered, the congregation began singing, “Joy to the World.” How could I sing about joy when I didn’t feel it?

At first, my voice faltered, and the words wouldn’t come. But then it hit me, the joy we were singing about wasn’t something I had to make happen. Joy is not a mood; it’s a Person. Jesus Himself had come. He was joy wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And even in my sorrow, that truth settled in my heart: joy doesn’t depend on me, it depends on Him.

How do we unwrap the gift of joy during the season? The shepherds give us a model.

1. They paused to encounter Jesus, leaving their fields to go see Him. We too, must slow down long enough to meet with Him in prayer, worship, and Scripture.
2. They didn’t dismiss the angels; they received the message with faith and ran towards the promise with joy. Joy grows when we trust God’s promises over the pressures of the season.
3. They shared the good news. The shepherds spread the word. Joy multiplies when we pass it along to others.

If you want joy this Christmas, look to Jesus. If you want it to last, give it away.

This devotional was written by Daira Traynor, the Associate Minister to Girls at First Baptist Dallas.

Two Questions for Thought:

1. Where in your life do you need to experience God’s joy this Christmas season?
2. Who around you might need to hear the good news of great joy, and how could you share it with them?

Daily Challenge:

This week, take one intentional step to unwrap joy. Pause in God’s presence and share encouragement with someone who needs to hear the good news.