By Jamie Voss
Joyful, Joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!
Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest.
Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest.
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother; All who live in love are Thine.
Teach us how to love each other; Lift us to the joy divine.
“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” was inspired by the beauty of God’s creation, specifically the mountains in Berkshire, Massachusetts. The writer, Henry Van Dyke, wrote this in the bleak days prior to World War 1, so, this joy is not absent of hardship and impending suffering, but of hope. How did he have this kind of joy?
What is the source of your joy? Many things bring me joy: a sunset (preferably at the beach), my husband, my children, vacations, being in nature, rest, and deep friendships. Those are such wonderful blessings and gifts from above. But the kind of joy that this hymn writer feels and expresses is deeper. My joy in those things is genuine, but it isn’t lasting. Marriage is wonderful and messy, mothering is rewarding but also hard and exacerbating, vacations end, but there is a lasting and fuller joy.
It can be easy, especially for us women, to be so busy during Christmas that we fail to stop and focus on Jesus. Parties, present buying, family traditions, travel, and decorating are all wonderful things. The joy we experience with all of these things will likely fade with the passing of time. When we stop and focus on Christ, we can experience the joy that does not fade with time. True joy is found in the Giver, not the gifts.
As a child, there was a big build-up to Christmas day, but it was always a letdown after it was over. But the beauty of the Advent season is that there is no letdown after Christmas is over—after the meal is eaten and the presents are opened and the parties are behind you, the real gift has just begun. Christmas is about a new birth, the hope and joy of a baby born into this world to save us out of our sins.
As the hymn says, “Christ is the ever blessing, ever blest, wellspring of the Joy of living!” Joy is found in Jesus. It is found in His presence and comes from Him. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” David realized that the key to joy was being in God’s presence. It wasn’t about his circumstances. I love that his right hand is never empty; the pleasures from him never run dry.
So, the key for me in keeping Christ at the center and experiencing the joy of the season is to be with Jesus. We are, both anticipating and celebrating the birth of our Savior and worshipping Him for the work He came to do and accomplished on our behalf. The HOPE and JOY that we are waiting for comes from the birth and life of Christ. The joy doesn’t end with the birth, it is just beginning! What a joyous thought!
What new beginnings would you like to see in your life or in your family’s life this year?
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