Happy Advent! I hope you have enjoyed the devotionals over the past few weeks as much as I have. We’ve anticipated the peace, hope, and love that come with Jesus’ arrival. Today, we begin an anticipation of joy.

“Wait, wait, wait, Blake. What do you mean ANTICIPATE joy? Isn’t that something we’re supposed to already have?”

Great question! The answer to that is absolutely! We’ve got access to joy because we live on the other side of the cross. But I think there’s a lesson to be learned about the anticipation of joy. Think about those times when you’re at your wits’ end: there are too many things to do and not enough time to do them, you’re in a bad relationship, you feel like you’re a terrible parent, you feel lost, afraid, unsure of where to go next. Kinda hard to have joy during those times, huh?

Yeah, same here.

But what if I told you that there’s a way to gain strength from the joy God provides even by simply ANTICIPATING it? Even when it feels like you have nowhere to turn and no source to draw joy from, God is providing an avenue for us to experience His deep joy in the midst of our darkest moments. That’s what today’s reading is all about.

There’s truly no better place to start this journey to joy than in the book of Isaiah. I mean, really, Isaiah could host a masterclass on how to anticipate joy. He was a prophet during some pretty dark days in Israel. Everyone had turned a blind eye toward the Lord and were doing what they thought was best (that is, of course, if you consider sacrifices to other gods to be *best*).

In the midst of all of this rebellion, Isaiah launches into a message about a coming Messiah, a Suffering Servant who would lead the nations back into relationship with Yahweh. In fact, that’s what Isaiah 11 is all about: the One who is shooting up from David’s family tree to take back the throne and bring God’s people out of exile! Whoop whoop! Time for a party!

Only one problem: it hasn’t happened yet.

The children of Israel are still rebelling. There’s still death, destruction, and oppression. Looking for joy? Nope. Not here.

And that’s why today’s text is so important. Isaiah has joy in chapter 12 because he is looking FORWARD to God’s future faithfulness. Check out verse 3: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

Did you see that? Israel will draw water with joy. It hasn’t happened yet, but Isaiah is so confident in Israel’s future joy that he is applying it to his circumstances today. It’s what gives him strength. It’s what keeps him going, even when everything is crashing and burning around him. He knows that the Lord is going to come through, even if it hasn’t happened yet.

And THAT is how we can find strength in the anticipation of joy. Even if you’re struggling with a difficult season, if Christmas is absolutely bonkers at your house, if everything is breaking down around you, you can anticipate the moment when you find yourself at the well of salvation, scooping up the life-giving water of Jesus with joy. And honestly, that’s what makes Christmas so beautiful.

Reflection:

• Take an honest survey of yourself right now: How’s your joy? Is the holiday season invigorating that joy or draining it?
• What moment can you look toward to draw joy from? What has Jesus done in your past that you can go back to and say, “That’s a wellspring moment for me?”
• Take 30 seconds today to be still and pray the following prayer: Jesus, there’s so much going on in my life right now. Sometimes, if I’m being honest, it’s hard to maintain my joy. Help me to draw on the water of salvation you offer to me. Thank You for coming and giving Your life on the cross so that I may be in a relationship with You. When all else fails, You don’t. Help me to see that and remember Your faithfulness, even in my darkest moments. In Your name, amen.

Family Application: Isaiah 12

Author: Carrie Hobson

Today, we are learning about the prophet Isaiah. A prophet is someone whom God used to tell others about things He would do in the future. In our scripture for today, Isaiah was predicting or prophesying to the people of Judah about the coming of the Messiah who would save His people. Isaiah lived 100s of years before Jesus, but he knew God could be trusted, so he told the people about all the good things God was going to do. He was thankful for God’s plan to rescue His people! As Isaiah told people of the coming Messiah, others became thankful and began telling people about all the amazing things God did for them.

When we’re thankful for all the things God did for us, we can’t help but tell others about Him! We deserved to be punished for all of our sins, but God gave us the greatest gift of all, Jesus, and He took on the death we deserved.

• This week tell a friend about something God has done in your life.
• Prayer: God, we thank You! Thank You for loving us so much that You would sacrifice Your only Son to rescue us! Help us to always remember the amazing things You do for us. We never want to take that for granted. We love You! Amen.