The Shout of Joy

One of the great misconceptions of the Christmas season is that joy and happiness are the same thing. Happiness can be manufactured for a while. We can smile, push through, and “fake it till we make it.” But joy — the real kind, the Spirit-born kind — comes from somewhere else entirely.

In Luke 1, we see two women whose lives are anything but easy. Elizabeth has carried years of shame and disappointment. Mary is stepping into a future filled with misunderstanding, suspicion, and whispered accusations. And yet, when they meet, the atmosphere changes instantly. Joy doesn’t creep in — it explodes.

John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary breaks into a song that echoes through generations. This isn’t joy rooted in circumstances. It’s joy rooted in recognition — God is at work.

What strikes me most about Mary’s song is that much of what she celebrates hasn’t happened yet. She sings about promises still in progress. She rejoices over a revolution that hasn’t fully arrived. That’s Advent joy — joy while we wait.

Joy isn’t denial. Mary knows what lies ahead. She understands the cost. But her perspective is eternal, not temporary. She trusts the God who keeps His promises, even when fulfillment is still unfolding.

Scripture reminds us that joy doesn’t stay quiet. Paul tells us to rejoice always. Not because life is easy, but because God is faithful. Joy becomes a declaration. A shout. A song that says, “I believe God is who He says He is, and I trust Him with what I cannot yet see.”
So what does joy sound like? It sounds like victory. It sounds like praise in the waiting. It sounds like faith speaking before the answer arrives.

This Christmas, don’t keep your joy bottled up. Let your life sing. Celebrate what God has done — and trust Him deeply for what He’s still doing.