Repeat the Sounding Joy

This passed weekend at church we sang "Joy to the World." As you probably know, this popular Christmas song talks about the joy of awaiting the arrival of Jesus. However, as I looked around at the hundreds of people in the worship center, I saw a group of expressionless people with hands awkwardly in their pockets...myself included. Where was the joy?

I think this time of year, we are all weary and burnt out, and I think it affects our ability to worship fully. Whether its the stress of finals, or the worry that comes with finding the perfect Christmas gift and how to afford it...we are pooped. Or maybe the song about the greatest joy we could ever imagine has simply become numb in our hearts.

"Repeat the sounding joy"...maybe we need to repeat it in order to spread the joy to others. Or maybe we simply need to repeat it to remind ourselves of the true joy of Christmas. Regardless, I would encourage any one who reads this to see the joy of this time of year. May we receive our Savior and King and not forget the power of Christmas. May we experience the joy that comes through giving and the peace that comes through humility. Where is your joy this holiday season?

"Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love."