Choosing Joy in a Season of Interruptions

by Pastor Krista Price
Week of December 14

On a Sunday when snow, cold, and safety concerns kept us from gathering in person, we were reminded of something deeply Advent-shaped: sometimes slowing down isn’t a disruption—it’s an invitation. Even worshiping online, scattered yet connected, we gathered around a single word for this week of Advent: joy. Not the fleeting kind that depends on circumstances, but the deep, resilient joy that comes from God’s presence with us.

Joy is often confused with happiness, but they are not the same. Happiness can rise and fall with the moment—good news, a clear road, a smooth week. Joy, however, has roots. It holds steady even when the roads are icy, plans change, or hearts feel heavy. Scripture reminds us that joy can coexist with tears, that those who sow in tears will one day reap with songs of joy (Psalm 126). Joy does not deny suffering; it grows through it.

Advent itself is a season of interruptions. Mary’s life was interrupted by an angel’s visit. Joseph’s plans were interrupted by obedience. Shepherds were interrupted in their fields. Wise men were interrupted on long journeys. Even the expectation of a powerful king was interrupted by the arrival of a vulnerable baby in a manger. And yet, in every interruption, God was at work, planting seeds of joy that would one day bear fruit.

We all face interruptions—emotional, physical, relational, financial. Sometimes they feel overwhelming, even paralyzing. The question is not whether interruptions will come, but where we choose to plant them. We can refuse to plant them at all, staying stuck in discouragement. We can plant them in things that promise quick happiness but leave us empty. Or we can plant them in God, trusting that even pain can become soil for new life. When planted in God’s care, suffering does not have the final word—joy does.

Joy, Scripture tells us, is also a choice. Paul, writing from prison, urged believers to “always be joyful,” not because life was easy, but because God was faithful. Choosing joy doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine; it means anchoring our hearts in the truth that God is with us, Emmanuel, even now. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength not because life is light, but because God is near.

This kind of joy grows over time. Like a bulb planted beneath the soil, it requires patience, nurturing, and trust. We water it with prayer, Scripture, worship, and community. We may not see immediate results, but growth is happening beneath the surface. Over time, what once felt barren can bloom into something beautiful.

One of the most powerful reminders of joy comes when we give it away. A phone call, a visit, a handwritten card, a small act of kindness—these simple gestures can spark unexpected joy, both in others and in ourselves. Joy multiplies when shared, especially with those who may be carrying heavy burdens during this season.

As Advent continues, we move from hope to peace to joy, and soon to love. The invitation before us is simple but profound: choose joy. Choose it again tomorrow. Choose it in the interruptions. Choose it by turning toward God and away from lesser things that cannot satisfy. In Christ, joy has come into the world—and it is available to us every single day.

May this season slow us down just enough to notice it.