Is it hard for you to sing the song “Joy to the World” right now?

Maybe you’re facing a layoff or handling a family crisis. Possibly it’s chronic or sudden illness or the fallout from addiction. Maybe your arms are lonely from infertility or divorce or widowhood. 

This time of year, it seems you’re expected to ignore your pain, slap a bow on it, and smile. But how will your life ever be merry and bright when your world is shaking, when your heart is breaking, and when you cry yourself to sleep? How will you ever sing “Joy to the World” when you’re under spiritual attack?

Mind if I tell you how? You’ll be able to sing “Joy to the World” because it wasn’t written for when Jesus came the first time. It was written for when Jesus comes the second time. It was written to remind you that the miserable things of this world are temporary. Thanks to Jesus, who came the first time to live and die for you one time, you now get to live with him for all time. 

So this Christmas Eve, if it’s hard, go ahead and grieve. But “do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13,14).

The baby in the manger is your hope. All will be well.