The season of Advent, traditionally a time of waiting and expectation, is filled with profound lessons on joy—joy that isn’t contingent on our circumstances but on the deeper assurance that we are seen, known, and loved by God. This joy is not fleeting or shallow; it is resolute, anchored in the faithfulness of God. The biblical story of Mary and Elizabeth offers rich insights into how we can find joy in the midst of both the highs and lows of life. Whether through community, praise, or patience, the Advent narrative teaches us that joy is always within reach, even in the most unexpected places.
Joy in Community
One of the first lessons of joy we find in the Advent story comes from the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth. Upon hearing the angel’s announcement, Mary hurries to visit her relative Elizabeth, who is also experiencing a miraculous pregnancy. The moment they meet, something extraordinary happens: “When the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:44). This reaction is not just physical; it symbolizes something much deeper. The joy that Elizabeth feels is a powerful reminder of how God’s presence can bring joy to those around us through relationship.
Community plays a vital role in the experience of joy. In moments of isolation, it’s easy to feel forgotten by God. Elizabeth, in particular, had endured a lengthy period of longing and waiting for a child, only to find herself living in seclusion after her miraculous pregnancy. Despite this, she finds joy in Mary’s presence. Their shared experience of God’s faithfulness creates a bond that lifts both women up in joy.
Joy in community isn’t just about shared experiences of happiness or celebration. It’s about the assurance that we are seen by God through the people He places in our lives. In their relationship, Mary and Elizabeth offer one another the gift of understanding, of empathy, and most of all, of joy. It’s a reminder that we are not meant to walk alone. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:12-13, we are called to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” as we bear with one another and forgive each other. In this way, community becomes a source of joy, not just through shared experiences, but through the way we live out God’s love and grace toward one another.
Additionally, Paul’s letter to the Galatians emphasizes the importance of bearing one another’s burdens, particularly within the body of Christ (Galatians 6:2). In our communities of faith, we are called to walk alongside each other, especially during difficult times. But this also means being vulnerable enough to let others walk alongside us. The joy that comes from true community is not just in the good times, but in the willingness to share our struggles, knowing that we are not forgotten by God, even in the midst of them.
Joy in Praise
The next key principle of joy is found in the response of Mary herself. After receiving the news from Gabriel that she would give birth to the Savior, Mary bursts into song, proclaiming the greatness of God. Her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) is a powerful expression of joy rooted in God’s faithfulness to her and to Israel. Her joy comes from recognizing the ways God has shown mercy, performed mighty deeds, and remembered His promises to His people.
Worship, especially through praise, is a profound way to express and experience joy. When we take the time to reflect on what God has done in our lives—whether through moments of peace, breakthrough, or simply through His faithfulness—we find our hearts filled with joy. This is what Mary does in her song. Her praise isn’t a reaction to happy circumstances; rather, it is a response to God’s presence in her life and in the life of the nation. She declares that God has not forgotten her or her people, and that He has shown His mercy to all generations.
The act of praise is transformative. It shifts our focus from the circumstances around us to the character of God. Whether through song, testimony, reading scripture, or any other form of worship, we are invited to remember who God is and what He has done. The psalmist writes in Psalm 100, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” (Psalm 100:1-2). Even in moments of hardship, we can choose to worship God, and in doing so, we invite His joy into our hearts. This is why joy and praise are so intimately connected—praise helps us to align our hearts with God’s perspective, reminding us that we are seen and known by Him.
The psalms are filled with expressions of both joy and sorrow. Even when the psalmist cries out in anguish, there is an underlying trust in God’s faithfulness. Psalm 13, for example, opens with a cry of desperation: “How long, Lord, will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 13:1). Yet by the end of the psalm, the psalmist declares, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5). This transition from sorrow to joy mirrors what many of us experience in our own lives. Life may not always be good, but God is always good. When we turn our hearts toward praise, we find that even in the midst of hardship, we can experience joy because we know that God is present and faithful.
Joy in Patience
The third principle of joy in the Advent story is joy found in patience. Mary stays with Elizabeth for three months before returning to her home (Luke 1:56). During this time, the two women share in their mutual joy, but they also live with the reality that their waiting is not over. Elizabeth will soon give birth, but Mary’s pregnancy will take many more months to come to fruition.
Patience is often viewed as a passive waiting, but it is actually an active expression of trust in God’s timing. Joy in patience is not about simply enduring difficult circumstances; it’s about trusting that God is at work, even when we don’t see the full picture. Waiting can be one of the most challenging aspects of life, especially when we feel like our prayers are unanswered or our hopes are deferred. However, Advent teaches us that even in the waiting, God is faithful. Mary and Elizabeth both experience joy in the midst of their waiting because they trust in God’s promises.
In the broader narrative of Advent, patience is a central theme. Israel had been waiting for the Messiah for centuries, and the birth of Jesus marks the fulfillment of that long-awaited promise. But for Mary and Elizabeth, the waiting was personal and specific to their circumstances. Their joy is rooted not in the immediate resolution of their situations, but in the confident assurance that God had not forgotten them. The waiting was part of the process, and in that waiting, they experienced joy.
Conclusion
The joy of Advent is not a superficial happiness that depends on external circumstances. Instead, it is a deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing that we are seen, known, and loved by God. This joy can be found in community, as we experience God’s love through relationships with others. It can be found in praise, as we lift our hearts in worship and reflect on God’s faithfulness. And it can be found in patience, as we trust that God is at work even in the waiting.
As we walk through this season of Advent, let us remember the lessons of Mary and Elizabeth. Let us embrace the joy that comes from knowing we are not forgotten, that God is with us in every circumstance, and that He is faithful to His promises. May we experience the kind of joy that is resolute, not dependent on what we’re walking through, but on the unshakable assurance that we are loved by the Creator of the universe.
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