I had a hard time waking up this morning. Or to be more accurate…I had a hard time getting out of bed.
It was cold outside which has a way of enticing you to stay under the covers.
But more than that, I was just tired. Overwhelmed. Unmotivated.
The items on the plate seem to exceed the strength in the body.
At times the responsibilities…the tasks…the demands…the expectations…the anxieties…can all come flooding together.
It seems safer to stay at home, inside, in bed, than to start the day.
But I got up.
Forced my body to respond.
Then force-fed my mind God's Word.
Reading Scripture is not always a joy. In fact, like physical exercise, it often feels like a chore, like a hard-to-keep routine.
But it gives focus. Builds discipline. Trains the mind toward God, toward godliness.
This morning I reflected on these words.
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)
Don't fear. There is good news. Of great joy. To all people. For Christ is born. A Savior. The Lord.
Great joy.
I long for great joy.
It is a battle.
Joy doesn't yield its fruit easily. It doesn't come automatically. It is not something you can bottle up, package up, and buy…despite what the commercials say.
This world doesn't offer much joy when you look at it honestly.
Conflict. Crime. Division. Hatred. Sickness. Disease. Disaster. Death.
So how does the birth of a baby in Bethelehem make any difference?
God knows. God sees. God cares.
God loves.
So much so that He entered our world in the person of Jesus Christ.
God with us.
Immanuel.
God understands.
He knows our hearts. He knows our struggles. He knows our fears. He is not a distant God uninterested in us. He walks with us, weeps with us, suffers with us.
God saves.
He bears our burdens, bears our wounds, bears our sins…and offers us salvation, freedom, grace…in His Son, the baby of Bethlehem, the Lamb of God, the Risen Lord.
God reigns.
The story is not yet complete. There is a better day coming. There is hope for each day.
There is a reason to rejoice.
There is a reason to give thanks.
There is a reason to keep moving forward.
There is a reason to get out of bed each morning and walk in newness of life.
Good morning, Pastor Steve. This is exactly how I have felt these last couple of days…from getting up in the morning, to reading scripture, exercising, etc. and that's after getting 9 hours of sleep. Thanks for this post. It's just what I needed to hear today. It's an encouragement and reminder to focus on the joy we have in Christ every day. Tomorrow I will not give in to a tired body; but, allow my spirit to lift me up in His joy! Have a joyful day!
Thanks for sharing, Beverly! Glad that the post encouraged you.