Advent Joy – #100

“What was that?” 

I awoke last night with a start. I had shifted in bed and there was a clanging noise below my head. My heart settled after a few seconds realizing that no one was breaking into our home, but something had just fallen off our bed. 

But what was it? I was too tired to care. 

This morning, I found out it was a spoon. 

Why in the world was a spoon in my bed?

A few years ago, one of Caroline’s teacher’s told her that if you put a spoon under your pillow, put ice cubes in the toilet and wear your pajamas inside out then it would snow. 

When Samuel came down this morning, wearing his pajamas inside out, I knew that the sound I had awoken to last night was a spoon under my pillow. 

Ice in the toilet, pajamas inside out and a spoon under the pillow is a fun and silly game to play as a kid…as long as it works. But this morning, when Samuel came down and there was no snow, but only slushy ice, Samuel was disappointed. 

He had the expectation of snow and all the implications of a snow day – spending all day outside sledding, hot chocolate,tons of candy, neighbors building igloos – and instead he got slushy rain and a chore list. 

His expectation was crushed by reality.

When was a time when your expectation was crushed by reality?

– – – – – – – – – – 

This is the third week of Advent (Hope, Peace). It is the week of joy. This year, while I have been reflecting on the birth of Christ, my attention has mainly been drawn to the expectation of the second coming of Christ. 

Christ is coming again. It’s just a matter of when and what we will do in the waiting. 

I am not one to look at the scriptures and try to figure out every single detail of when and how it will happen, but I am one to look at the scriptures and marvel over the details that we do know.

He is coming again. He will make all things right. There will be no more sorrow. Our triune God will dwell with us. And we won’t need any light, because the glory of God is the light (Revelation 21). 

Those are only a few of the details that we know, but here is a thought that has me thinking upside down – 

It is not often in life that something we experience exceeds our expectations. And if that does happen, time passes and the excitement of the experience fades. More often than not, our expectation of something is greater in our minds than the reality of it. Just like Samuel’s expectation of the snow day today.

But the thought that keeps getting me is that when Christ comes again, our expectation of it, grand as it may be, will be crushed by the reality of it.

Nothing our minds can fathom is great enough. 

– – – – – – – – – – –

The good news of our salvation in Jesus now and the good news of what is awaiting believers in Christ brings us true joy – not temporary happiness that the world offers, but joy that is deep within. Joy that is unhindered by sin and brokenness. Joy that is unending. And joy that is tangible because we will be in the presence of pure joy – God himself. 

So my question for you, friend, is this, what are you doing in the waiting? Are you just riding this life out, or are you living with eager anticipation of Christ’s return? Are you calling others to join you on the journey? Are you praying for those in your life who do not yet know the joy that is found in Christ? 

Isaiah 35 speaks of a road that only the righteous will walk on. None of us are righteous by our own merit, it is only through Jesus that we are imputed with his righteousness and therefore are allowed to walk on this road. 

“Only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:9-10. 

This road will lead us to joy. And God wants everyone on it. 

Share the hope of Christ.

Share the peace of Christ.

Share the joy of Christ with others. That’s what we should do in the waiting. 

One day we will step into life everlasting and our expectations of it will be crushed by the reality of it. And joy will overtake us. 

Thanks be to Him. 

“Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” Isaiah 35:10. 

Jesus, you are our joy now and forevermore.

Also, this is my 100th post. Thank you to each of you who are faithful readers and encouragers! You have no idea how much it means. I would love to hear from you – post in the comments or email me at meredith.k.read@gmail.com – what has been most meaningful to you through these posts? Here’s to 100 more!