In C. S. Lewis’ autobiography, Surprised by Joy, he tells of experiencing an other-worldly joy ─ a specific Joy that defies our modern understanding. This idea of Joy is not a satisfied desire but an unsatisfied desire ─ a deep longing for God, a hungry pursuit of God’s heart that never ends and is more satisfying than any earthly happiness.
Lewis describes three seemingly trivial and disconnected experiences with a common thread: he experienced a sudden, piercing pang of longing ─ a bittersweet ache and yearning for something far-off, other-worldly, and unnamed during each event.
He would later recognize these sudden aches of longing: they were a deep spiritual hunger for God ─ not just for an intellectual knowledge of God, but for a real relationship with Him. These deep longings in Lewis’ life ─ these stabs of Joy ─ worked as flashing sign-markers pointing him down the path toward Christ. https://my.bible.com/reading-plans/3253-c-s-lewis-joy/day/1
True Joy was born on Christmas Day.
The apostle John describes Jesus’ birth by saying that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” In the original Greek, that “Word” is Logos, God’s most intimate essence – God Himself. God is the creator of Joy. The Fruits of the Spirit are love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control…, these are the attributes of God!
Jesus’ birth was accompanied by angels proclaiming, “tidings of great joy!”
They were announcing the arrival of Emmanuel... God with us. The embodiment of JOY, come to earth!
The world would never be the same.
(Emmanuel or Immanuel? Here's a great explanation of the two spellings. )
May His JOY reign in your heart this Christmas!
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