Joy is something we all long for—but often struggle to hold onto.
We feel it in moments: when life goes well, when relationships are healthy, when prayers are answered, when circumstances finally align. But just as quickly as joy arrives, it can fade. Disappointment, grief, pressure, and unresolved pain have a way of crowding it out. For many, joy feels fragile—dependent on everything going right.
Yet the Christmas story tells us something radically different.
When the angels announced the birth of Jesus, they declared “good news that will bring great joy to all people.” Not temporary happiness. Not surface-level emotion. Great joy. Lasting joy. A joy that would not depend on circumstances—but on a person.
Throughout the Christmas narrative, we see that joy doesn’t arrive without a journey.
It required belief in the impossible.
Availability to God’s plan.
Courage in the face of uncertainty.
Humility to receive what couldn’t be earned.
And a willingness to keep searching until truth was found.
Joy was never meant to be found in comfort, control, or perfect conditions. It was meant to be found in presence.
So many of us try to manage pain by distancing ourselves from it—pushing down memories, numbing emotions, or avoiding vulnerability altogether. But when we disconnect from past pain, we often disconnect from present joy as well. God doesn’t enter our lives just to fix what was broken yesterday; He comes to be with us right now. His presence restores our ability to live fully in the present.
This is why joy isn’t an experience we chase—it’s a relationship we receive.
Jesus doesn’t promise a life free from struggle, but He promises to be with us in it. And because He is eternal, the joy found in Him is eternal too. When joy feels absent, it’s not a sign that hope is gone—it’s an invitation to return to the source.
Scripture reminds us:
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.”
Overflowing joy doesn’t come from adding more to our lives—it comes from anchoring our lives in the One who never leaves. Joy has a name. And His name is Jesus.
Christmas is a reminder that we were never meant to carry life alone. The story isn’t over. Healing is possible. And joy is still available—right here, right now.
🙌 Call to Action
If you’ve been searching for joy in temporary places and coming up empty, maybe it’s time to return to the source.
Take a moment today to invite Jesus into the center of your life—not as a solution to manage, but as the presence that restores. And if you’re looking for a community to walk that journey with you, we’d love to welcome you this Sunday at RIVERS Church.
Joy is closer than you think.
By Pastor Lorenzo DellaForesta