A Prayer about Joy in the Midst of Sadness
Celebrate joyfully in the Lord, all the time. I’ll say it again: Celebrate! Philippians 4:4
Lord,
I love how theologian Tom Wright translates Philippians 4:4
and what he teaches us about joy
in his advent devotional:
Joy goes “hand in hand with hope:
it doesn’t mean
that everything is already just as it should be,
only that with Jesus now enthroned as Lord
we know it eventually will get there.”*
He encourages us to feel
the depth of our emotions,
including grief,
because Jesus did.
Today and every day of this week,
I pray for my friends and for myself:
May we celebrate the joy Jesus brings,
even if we’re feeling sad or frustrated or lonely,
knowing this is not the way it will always be,
because you sent your Son into the world
to make all things,
including our emotions—
new.
In Jesus’ hope-bringing name. Amen.
Read Philippians 4:4-9.
(From N.T. Wright’s Advent for Everyone, A Journey with the Apostles).
Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.