Advent 3: Joy

​​It’s hard to think about joy today for those of us in Unalakleet, our small village of about 750.  Yesterday, we found out that we lost another person in our community to a tragic death.  I’ve lost track, but I believe this is the 9th person we have lost just this fall.  Our village is full of the tears of those that grieve.  God gives us tears to bring about healing.  It is good and right to grieve.  And yet, we do not grieve as those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).  We cling to the promise that Jesus gave us, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
 
This advent season, we have taken a look at how we celebrate the love of Christ, the peace of God, and today we look at the joy of the Lord.  Like love and peace, joy is something that may seem fleeting if separated from God.  However, when we have the joy of the Lord, this is something that cannot be taken from us or destroyed.  Christ loves us unconditionally, the peace of God surpasses all understanding, and the joy of the Lord is our eternal strength.  None of these depend on us, but are firmly rooted in who God is, what He does, and the glory of His Kingdom come. 
 
That is why we, as Christians, faced with great grief, can sing songs like the Bible Camp song, “Trading My Sorrows.”  It is a song that is based off of several Scriptures and is an encouragement to me today.  The author, Darrell Evans, says in an interview that he hopes that this song is sung as an intercessory prayer for someone that is experiencing sorrow, pain, sickness, or shame.  http://www.crosswalk.com/church/worship/song-story-trading-my-sorrows-by-darrell-evans-1236482.html.
 
I invite you to pray this song with me today.  Maybe you are grieving and you are the one that needs the joy of the Lord to be your strength.  Or maybe God has brought someone to your heart to pray this song for today.  Either way, let us lay down our burdens and take up the joy of the Lord.
 
Trading My Sorrows – Darrell Evans, © 1998 Integrity's Hosanna! Music
 
I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

I am pressed but not crushed,
Persecuted not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed
I am blessed beyond the curse
For His promise will endure
That His joy is gonna be my strength
Though the sorrow may last for the night
His joy comes in the morning

I'm trading my sorrows
I'm trading my shame
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I'm trading my sickness
I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord
And we're singing

Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

And we're singing
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord
Yes Lord, yes Lord, yes yes Lord, Amen

Yes Lord, Amen
Yes Lord, Amen!
 

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