…so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. ~ Psalm 30:12
On the Third Sunday of Advent we turn our attention to the third candle, the only pink candle on our advent wreath. This candle is different to mark a shift in our focus during the Advent season. Our first two weeks of worship focused on moments surrounding hope – the hope of the resurrection yet to come – and love – as seen through God’s forgiveness. These two Sundays can sometimes leave us with feelings of incompleteness as we often spend time reflecting on the brokenness within ourselves and the world. But this Sunday we sing a different song. This Sunday, we focus on Joy.
I was spending time with some colleagues this week and I was reminded of Psalm 30. It’s a psalm of Thanksgiving, thought to be written as David was recovering from severe illness. As we talked, our conversation shifted to what Joy actually is and was highlighted again in bible study this week as we studied Joseph’s reaction to Jesus’ conception. I think this Psalm captures it well.
Joy is not happiness – the two are very different. See, joy is something we can have at all times and in all places where happiness is generally situational. Joy is something we receive from God where happiness is something we create. In the Psalm, David explains that he was in a place where he was “crying out” for help (2). David was in a place where he did not feel God’s presence (3). He thought he was going to die (9).
Yet despite all of that, he proclaims that this darkness was only for a season for David knew that God was there, even if David could not see God’s face. David tells the story of how God shifted his deep pain and sorrow and showed him those moments of great goodness. He tells how God has shifted his “mourning into dancing… clothing him with joy” (11).
And because of that Joy, David refuses to be silent.
It has caused me to stop and wonder what it truly looks like to be joyful. Is joy simply knowing that the hardships and pain we experience are not the end of God’s story? Or is joy something more?
Could it be that joy is not only knowing the weeping is only a season but also giving thanks for the morning when the joy returns, even before it does? Could it be that joy is proclaiming out loud that strength to get through the hard times comes from God and God alone?
I tend to lean more towards the last set of questions.
Comment your thoughts below!
Blessings friends,
Pastor Nicole