More Than Just Happiness: A Joy That Lasts
Pastor Rasol Manouchehri Ardakani - 16 December 2025
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’”
Welcome to Day 16.
We have passed the halfway point of December. By now, the Christmas season is in full swing. The radio is playing upbeat songs, the shops are bustling, and we are constantly being told that this is the "most wonderful time of the year." We are under a lot of pressure to be happy.
But if we are honest, happiness can be quite fragile.
Happiness usually depends on "happenings." If the sun is shining, if the traffic is light, and if our team wins the football match, we feel happy. But if the car breaks down, or if the turkey burns, or if a family member makes a snide comment, that happiness can evaporate in seconds. Happiness is like a thermometer; it goes up and down depending on the atmosphere.
The angel in Luke 2 does not offer the shepherds happiness. He offers them joy.
There is a massive difference. While happiness is a feeling based on circumstances, joy is a state of being based on truth. Joy is like a thermostat; it sets the temperature regardless of the weather outside.
Look at who received this message first. It was the shepherds. They were not living easy lives. They were out in the cold, working the night shift, likely tired and smelling of sheep. They were on the bottom rung of society's ladder. Yet, the angel tells them that this good news will cause "great joy."
This tells us that joy is not just for those who have their lives together. It is not just for the wealthy or the comfortable. It is for "all the people."
The reason this news brings joy is because of what it solves. The angel wasn't announcing a tax break or a holiday. He was announcing a Saviour. The deep ache in the human heart, the separation between us and God, was finally being fixed.
This means we can have joy even when we are not necessarily happy. You can be grieving a loss this Christmas and still have deep joy because you know that death is not the end. You can be worried about your finances and still have joy because you know God is your provider.
God is with us in joy because He is the source of it. C.S. Lewis once said that joy is the serious business of heaven. When Jesus was born, heaven touched earth, and that joy spilled over into our world.
So today, do not feel guilty if you don't feel "happy" every second of the day. You don't need to force a smile for the sake of the season. Instead, try to tap into the deep well of joy that comes from knowing Jesus. The circumstances of life change like the wind, but the "good news" the angel announced is a solid rock.
You are loved. You are rescued. God is with you. That is a reason for joy that no bad day can ever take away.
Prayer of the Day:
Lord God, thank You for the good news of great joy. We confess that we often chase after fleeting happiness instead of Your lasting joy. Please help us to tell the difference. When life is hard and our smiles feel forced, help us to find our strength in the deep knowledge that You are with us. Fill us with the joy of the Lord today. Amen.