AdventSample

Joy that is anchored

You’ve seen it thousands of times over – when joy is depicted in a movie, tv show or story, it’s accompanied by the swelling music that magnifies the joy of the moment.

Despite music accompanying it, or perhaps even depicting it, joy is not something we manufacture – it’s something we receive. Mary’s song, The Magnificat, overflows with joy that comes not from her circumstances, but from her God. She was young, uncertain about the future, and carrying a promise she could barely comprehend. Yet her response was worship.

Mary teaches us something vital: joy is rooted in who God is, not in how life feels. When she sang, ‘He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant’ (v48a NIV), she was declaring that God sees, God remembers and God acts. That was enough for her soul to rejoice.

Advent joy is not shallow happiness or a festive mood. It’s deeper. It’s the kind of joy that holds steady when life is uncertain, because it rests on the faithfulness of God. It’s the joy that bubbles up when we remember we are seen, chosen and loved.

As you move through this advent season, pause with Mary’s song. Let her words become your own: ‘The Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is His name’ (v49 NIV). Lift your eyes from the weight of your circumstances to the wonder of His presence. There you will find joy – not fleeting, but anchored.

Written by SUSIE HOLT