The Weary World Rejoices

Last night at the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in my hometown, the lyrics ‘the weary world rejoices’ brought me to tears.  Why?  Because I’m weary.  As I know so many of you are as well.  Yet this Christmas, we rejoice.  Truly rejoice . . . in the weariness.  Why?  Because Jesus changes everything, and we can only rejoice when weary because we’re full of Him.

In this Advent season of weekly themes, we’re about to transition from peace to joy.  In the middle of the weariness and the craziness and the pain and the fear and the anxiety and the brokenness . . . yet the hope, the peace, the joy, and the love remain.  And will consume us this Christmas season if we let them.  Why?

Because Jesus changes everything.  Even Christmas.

Christmas is about Jesus.  Not the religious laws and judgements and shame and guilt we’ve built up around us.  Not the decorations or fancy parties or traditions we check off rather than use to check in.  Christmas is about faith in Jesus, our hope in the Father, and the presence of His Spirit.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:1-5

Our American culture (and I’m so very grateful to call America home) allows Christmas to be comfortable.  We get to celebrate the superficial and the spiritual together in freedom and fun.  We don’t have much persecution. But we experience affliction.  We need endurance.  We need hope.  Hope that will not disappoint.  And this truth, simply stated in Romans 5 above, brings me to tears.  Especially in this season.

When I think of hope, I picture a harvest.  An abundant season of flowers and fruit and gorgeous growth and beauty.  Oh, how I want to live in the harvest.  Yet I’m learning that the season of harvest requires the hardest work.  The biggest efforts.  The most intentionality. The most endurance.

But this ‘hardest work’ is not about shining in our own efforts and working hard in our own strength.   I’m talking about burning bright from within, fully reliant on the Spirit’s fire producing His fruit and beauty.  Sometimes the hardest part is our surrender, submission, sacrifice . . . yes, ours . . . but even greater . . . the Baby’s in the manger that grew into a man, fully human and fully God, who gave it ALL for us  . . . His surrender, submission, sacrifice . . . for our weary world and helpless hearts.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For rarely will someone die for a just person — though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

Each year, a traditional Christmas carol strikes a new chord in my soul.  This year, that song is ‘O Holy Night’ . . . because Jesus changes everything. And in our weariness, we rejoice.

Join me in worship and reflection by pressing play to the video below . . . we’ll apply this to workouts and wellness soon enough.

Love to all the wearied souls . . . let us rejoice. And love one another. Hugs, Libby

OH HOLY NIGHT LYRICS

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born.
O night, O holy night, O night divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand:
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land,
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;

He knows our need, To our weakness no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! your King! before him bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful Chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!

Christ is the Lord, then ever! ever praise we!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!