January 13

The Christians’s Joy

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! — Luke 1:47 BSB

This is another part of Mary’s song, and it holds the secret to all deep Christian joy. We have no lasting joy until we are part of God’s family and have found refuge in Him. One of the old prophets said, “Let the inhabitants of the rocks sing!” Only those who take refuge in the Rock of Ages can sing with true and lasting joy. The world’s happiness quickly turns to sorrow.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, a little bird sat in a tree and sang a few notes whenever there was a brief lull in the roar of the battle. But as soon as the noise resumed, its song was drowned out. That’s how it is with the world’s joy—it sings for a moment when life is calm, but it is quickly silenced by the troubles and struggles of life. The world’s joy cannot survive loss, grief, or death. But the person who rejoices in God has a joy that continues to sing even through life’s battles and darkest nights.

Christians face troubles, but those troubles don’t steal their joy. Even in deep sorrow, there is a fountain of joy welling up in the heart. It’s like a freshwater spring near the seashore. Twice a day, the salt tides roll over it, but the spring never stops flowing. After the tides recede, the water remains fresh and sweet. That’s the Christian’s joy. It’s a living well that never runs dry. Even when sorrow comes, there is still a deep peace in the heart. And when the sorrow passes, the joy returns, fresh as ever. True joy depends on its source. If our joy is in God, nothing on earth can take it away.