Mourning Into Joy

We often try to force a cheerful mood at Christmas time - think "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." The lights, parties, gifts, and music are intended to lift our spirits, but this temporary feeling doesn't last beyond the Christmas season. Even during the season, it's easy to become cynical because we still see all the darkness, trouble, and pain around us in spite of the call to be chipper.

The Christian understanding of Christmas offers a better approach. In this ancient text from the prophet Jeremiah, God promises to turn mourning into joy - not simply sugar-coat our lives temporarily, but actually transform the sorrow and pain into gladness and healing. Christmas invites us to mourn and become weak because God promises to turn it into joy in Jesus.