by Max Lucado
Dear Friend,
‘Tis the season, so we say. And so we sing. Joy to the world! Families gathering, wassail warming, presents stacking… joy everywhere. The holidays are meant for joy.
But sometimes joy is out of arm’s reach. For a few weeks this past summer, it was literally out of reach for me, as I spent a few weeks recovering from shoulder surgery. Ouch! (I’m fine now, thankfully.) Perhaps you can relate. If joy has seemed distant this year, here’s a reminder: God wants his children to be joy-filled. His joy is not a shallow, easily extinguished mood, not a naïve view of life’s challenges.
Our Savior knew storms and struggles; he went face to face with the devil himself. He saw sickness and hunger. But he never lost his deeply rooted joy. Despite what he faced, Jesus enjoyed resilient joy: “for the joy set before him he endured the cross” (Heb.12:2).
He desires to pour this joy, his joy, into your heart. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (Jn. 15:11). Joy and hope are intertwined, and express our mission here at UpWords Ministries.
Our goal has always been to help people take a step closer to Jesus. And we are grateful for your support whether in words of encouragement, prayer, or financial support. As partners in the Gospel, we share hope and joy in Jesus Christ on many fronts such as UpWords radio broadcast; website; weekday email; special events, podcast, and more. In the past year, we’ve been blessed to launch the YouTube show “Fresh Hope.” If you haven’t already discovered it, we hope you will join us at https://www.youtube.com/MaxLucadoOfficial.
If this year has been hard; if struggle and discouragement have flooded your spirit, hold to the promises of scripture. “Your sorrow will be turned into joy” (Jn. 16:20
My prayer is this: Father, we ask you to deposit unspeakable joy in our hearts. Help us to recall your sacrifice, your grace, and the immeasurable gift of your Son. As we celebrate his birth, may we joyfully anticipate his second coming.
Amen.
