Hope Has Come (part 2)

Joy in the Manger

The Christmas story is often wrapped in words like joy, peace, and “good news.” We hear phrases like “Merry Christmas” and “joy to the world” everywhere — on cards, in songs, on store displays. But for someone walking through grief, joy can feel impossibly out of reach during the holidays.

And yet, when the angel appeared to the shepherds, he didn’t say,
“Good news of great joy — for those who feel happy.”
He said, “Good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

Joy came for the grieving.
Joy came for the brokenhearted.
Joy came for those whose lives did not look the way they hoped.

Joy came for you.
Because joy came in the person of Jesus.

The angel went on to say,
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

A Savior — not just for our sins, but for our sorrows.
A Savior who knows grief, pain, betrayal, loneliness, and loss.
A Savior who stepped into our broken world, not to escape suffering, but to enter into it.

Sometimes we think joy is something we have to create, or earn, or work our way toward. But biblical joy isn’t rooted in our circumstances. It’s rooted in Christ Himself — God with us.

Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence there is fullness of joy.”
Not in our ideal life.
Not in a healed heart.
Not in a holiday season that looks like it used to.

Joy is found in His presence.

And here’s the part that still amazes me:
Jesus doesn’t wait for us to “feel better” before He brings joy.
He brings joy right into the middle of grief.

The Hope of Christmas for Hurting Hearts

When Jon passed, I didn’t feel joy. I didn’t feel peaceful. I certainly didn’t feel like celebrating anything. But I look back and see how the presence of Christ met me — in the nights when I couldn’t sleep, in the mornings when the weight felt unbearable, in the quiet moments when I prayed simply, “Help me.”

The joy Christ offers isn’t loud or flashy.
It isn’t the joy of a perfect holiday or a put-together life.
It’s the quiet, steady joy of knowing you are not alone.

A joy that whispers:
“I see you.”
“I know your pain.”
“I am with you.”
“I came for this — for you.”

The hope of Christmas is not that your grief disappears, but that your grief is held by Someone strong enough to carry it. Someone who came down into our darkness to bring light and life. Someone who brings good news of Christ even when life doesn’t feel good.

So if joy feels complicated this year, or if you can’t “get into the Christmas spirit,” you’re not failing. You’re not doing it wrong. And you’re not alone.

Joy was never meant to be something we muster up.
Joy is Someone who came near.

A Savior who brings hope when life hurts.
A King who meets us in the valley.
A God who steps into our sorrow and fills it with His presence.

This is the joy that came down.
This is the joy grief cannot take away.
This is the joy that is still for you — even now.

If you’re walking through grief and need a quiet place to process, I have created resources specifically for you in my Etsy shop, HOPE & HARMONY PAGES. These three digital printables work on their own and hand in hand with each other:

HOPE IN THE MOURNING: A 30 DAY JOURNAL FOR THE GRIEVING,,

GRIEF TO GRACE MINI GUIDE: 5 GENTLE STEPS TOWARD HOPE

30 SCRIPTURE CARDS FOR GRIEF. If you know someone these might encourage, I would be honored if you’d share these resources—and my blog—with them.

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