Where's the Joy?
12/22/2021
Written By: Nancy Purtlebaugh
As I write this, we are getting closer to Christmas. When you read it, Christmas will be just a few days away. There are so many reasons to be joyful--the beautiful decorations, the presents, the music, the manger.
And yet--Covid cases are on the rise (again)-causing fear in loneliness in so many. A family in our community will be laying their 3 year old son to rest after a battle with cancer. A childhood friend of mine just lost her 23 year old son after he was injured in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind a wife and 2 kids (and the rest of his family). A young father (and husband, brother, son, friend) lays in a hospital bed hooked to machines fighting for his life, battling Covid.
And the stories continue to come in. None of it feels joyful. In fact, it feels heavy and a bit too much to handle. I remember feeling this way the year my mom died and less than 2 weeks later my aunt died--both sudden and unexpected.
Joy to the World?? Are we sure? Because this, THIS doesn’t feel joyful. It actually feels nothing like life should. This, Father, is not how I expected my life to be right now. Then I recall another story I know, and maybe you do too.
This girl’s name was Mary. She was engaged to be married. I’m sure she was making plans for how that anticipated day would go. We don’t really know for sure what she was doing, but we will pick up the story starting in Luke 1:26. You will see her story intersects with God’s story and everyone else’s story.
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this could be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “may it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. - Luke 1:26-38
Take a moment and try to place yourself in Mary’s shoes. Can you imagine? She was engaged to be married, a virgin, and now she would be pregnant? In this time period and in their culture everything about this situation could be devastating for Mary. Being an unwed mother could lead to a lifetime of being single, which is entirely different than today. There were few options for Mary to support herself and a baby--which could force her to take jobs that were unthinkable. She would definitely be ostracized--who would even believe this story? Becoming pregnant by God?? Would her soon to be husband walk away? He had every right to, if he didn’t believe the story.
And let’s not forget Mary’s age. She was around 14 years old. All these factors (and many more) could have easily made her look at the angel and say--You are crazy!! I’m not doing this! She could have tried to run away, she could have thrown a temper tantrum (she was a teenager after all). And yet, she asked one simple question, then humbly and obediently made the statement that is so profound in the Christmas story. One that we more than likely overlook. “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”
I’m not sure I would have reacted the same as Mary at 14, engaged to be married, and a virgin. I mean, this could ruin EVERYTHING! This had nothing to do with how Mary thought things were going to go. We know how the story goes because we have the Bible to see how it all turns out. We know Joseph stayed (after some urging from Gabriel in a dream). We also know that because of Mary’s trust in God and her humble obedience--her story changed our story forever.
Her baby became our Savior.
Mary’s plans were completely derailed from what she thought they would be. I know with everything in me that some of you are walking through a story you never thought you would. You are facing unimaginable pain this Christmas. I KNOW it doesn’t feel joyful right now. The pain you are feeling is real. God sees and knows. I want you to take comfort in knowing God had a plan for Mary’s life, and He has one for yours too.
I received a Christmas card a few days ago, and here is what it says:
“In an unlikely place, in an unlikely way, Joy was born that first Christmas Day. Jesus’ birth demonstrates that God intervenes in the most unlikely situations and delivers reason to rejoice! Our prayer is that this Christmas your Joy may abound, especially in those areas of life where you find it most unlikely.”
That is my prayer for you, friends. Please understand, even though your situation may not feel joyful--Joy is found in a person-Jesus. Look to Him for Joy. Remember young Mary’s response, and God’s faithfulness, trusting that God wants good things for us. I pray that you, like Mary, are able to say, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.”