Reflecting on Joy in the Midst of Waiting
Isaiah paints an unforgettable picture of joy bursting forth in the desert — barren places bloom, the blind regain sight, the lame leap with joy, and silence breaks into songs of praise. This vision isn’t just poetic hope; it points to God’s transformative promise that beauty and life will emerge from barrenness and hardship. It reminds us that even the driest and hardest places in life are not beyond God’s reach to bring restoration.
In Matthew, John the Baptist, imprisoned and uncertain, asks Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus responds by pointing to signs of life and joy already breaking through: the blind see, the lame walk, the good news is preached. Jesus tells John—and us—that joy is not just a future gift but a present experience, glimpses of heaven’s joy visible even in a world still worn by sorrow and waiting.
Joy Rooted in Hard Places
When have you experienced joy amid uncertainty or waiting? Like John in prison, we may wrestle with doubt, longing for deliverance. Yet Jesus invites us to notice the signs of joy already here—small mercies, healing, moments of peace—that signal God’s presence at work. Joy takes root in hard places when we choose to see beyond our current struggles to the hope God promises.
Joy as a Sign of God’s Presence
Joy itself is a powerful sign that God’s kingdom is at hand. It is not naive happiness but a deep, resilient hope anchored in God’s promises. It bursts through the cracks of life’s hardships—like flowers blooming in a desert—and offers a foretaste of the everlasting joy to come.
Life and Joy Blooming
Where do you see life and joy blooming around you? Perhaps in quiet acts of kindness, unexpected moments of laughter, or in communities coming together despite challenges. Pay attention this Advent to these glimpses of joy—they are God’s footprints, telling us that redemption is unfolding.
God of joy and restoration, help me to see your beauty emerging even in the barren places of my life. Teach me to recognize your presence in small, unexpected ways. May your joy fill my heart this Advent, strengthening my hope and guiding me into deeper faith. Amen.
This reflection was written by Jeff Lee.
Jeff is a CBF Field Personnal and 2BC Ministry Partner serving in Skopje, North Macedonia.