Home for Christmas: The Joyful Home

What comes to mind when you think of Christmas joy? Phrases like “Christmas cheer” and “Christmas spirit” get thrown around this season, but what do they really mean?

If you Google “Christmas joy,” the first results include a Hallmark movie, Christmas Joy. (Yes, Hallmark makes movies now—not just cards.) These films, while formulaic, offer a comforting escape, and for many, they epitomize the idea of festive happiness. Keep scrolling, and you’ll find everything from themed crockery by Emma Bridgewater to blogs and online shopping suggestions.

But let’s pause for a moment. When we’re searching for understanding, especially about profound concepts like joy, why is Google often our first stop? What if, instead of the search bar, we turned to Scripture? As followers of Christ, the Bible should be our go-to source—not just for answers, but for eternal truths.

So, let’s do that. Let’s ask, What is joy?

What Is Joy?

The dictionary defines joy as “a feeling of great pleasure, delight, success, and happiness.” That sounds nice, but it’s also problematic because it makes joy entirely subjective.

What brings you joy might not bring me joy. For example:

• Some people think Manchester City is the best football team in the world. Others couldn’t care less.
• For some, ABBA is the greatest band ever; for others, their music is unbearable.
• And then there’s Marmite—love it or hate it, right?

Joy, as the world defines it, is fleeting and entirely tied to personal preferences. What makes us happy today might not tomorrow. Hobbies change, tastes evolve, and what once brought us delight can quickly fade.

But here’s the good news: the joy God offers us is entirely different.

Joy in the Old Testament

We often associate joy with the New Testament, but did you know the concept of joy is central to the Old Testament as well? As the theologian Edmond Jacob observed:

“There is no word more central to the Old Testament than the word joy… Joy forms the centre of this faith… which consists of rejoicing before Yahweh and in communion with him.”

Joy in the Old Testament isn’t about fleeting emotions or material blessings; it’s about communion with God. It’s a deep-seated rejoicing that comes from being in His presence.

When we worship together, spend time in God’s Word, and grow in relationship with Him, we are transformed. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and more—begins to grow in us, shaping us into the likeness of Christ.

Joy That Transforms

I’ve seen this truth play out in my own life. When I was 16, I started working in pubs. It wasn’t always a place where you’d expect to see God at work, but even there, people noticed something different in me.

• Dave, a doorman prone to anger, would pause to hear my perspective.
• Stuart, a manager entangled in drugs, would open up to me.
• Simon, a DJ with a different lifestyle, saw something he couldn’t quite explain.

Despite my flaws, God’s joy was evident in me. And here’s the thing: even when we don’t realize it, God can work through us to impact others.

I saw this even more vividly during a trip to an AIDS orphanage in Johannesburg. These children had lost their parents, faced uncertain futures, and some were battling HIV themselves. Yet, they radiated joy.

How? Because their joy wasn’t based on circumstances. It was rooted in something deeper.

The Source of True Joy

As S.D. Gordon explains:

“Joy is distinctly a Christian word… It is the reverse of happiness. Happiness is the result of an agreeable happening. Joy has its springs deep down inside. And that spring never runs dry, no matter what happens. Only Jesus gives that joy.”

This truth has carried me through dark seasons. Life isn’t always easy. Storms come, and sometimes they shake us so much that the fruit of joy seems to fall from the tree.

But here’s the hope: even when the harvest seems slim, God isn’t finished. Like a tree planted by streams of water (Psalm 1), we may not bear fruit every season, but in due time, joy will spring forth again.

Joy Made Complete in Christ

Jesus said:

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

In this passage, Jesus reminds us that true joy comes from abiding in Him. He is the vine; we are the branches. When He is the source, our joy becomes complete—not because of changing circumstances, but because of His unchanging nature.

His joy is eternal. It’s not dependent on us or what’s happening around us. When Jesus is the subject of our joy, we find a wellspring that never runs dry.

Application: Finding Joy This Christmas

As we prepare for Christmas, let’s focus on the joy that only Christ can bring. It’s fine to enjoy the fleeting joys of the season—movies, music, decorations—but let’s make God the centre of our celebration. Only His joy can sustain us through the ups and downs of life.

Questions for Reflection

1. What brings you joy? Reflect on whether these sources of joy are fleeting or rooted in Christ.
2. When was the last time you felt God’s joy? What were you doing, and how can you seek more moments like this?
3. How do you respond to life’s storms? Do you rely on fleeting joys, or do you turn to God’s eternal joy?
4. Who might see God’s joy in you this Christmas? Think about how your actions could point others to Christ.
5. What steps can you take to abide in Christ this season? Consider practical ways to spend time in God’s Word, prayer, and worship.

This Christmas, may your home be filled with the joy that comes not from presents or festivities, but from the presence of Christ—the true source of everlasting joy.