Advent joy gives life in the midst of death.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus.” 
Isaiah 35:1 English Standard Version

I mentioned before that to live in Colorado you need to enjoy the color brown. That couldn’t have been truer than a few year’s ago. We were in the middle of drought; a severe drought. When I typed this blog, a 3,500 acre wildfire was burning in and around Rocky Mountain National Park…and it was December.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

The grass turns brown. The bushes turn brown. Even the needles of evergreens are tinted brown. However, this brown hue takes on a multicolored look as residents dress their bushes and trees with Christmas lights.

The wilderness blossoms in the red, green and blue of Christ’s birth.

You might relate to the brown of Colorado. As you walk deeper into the darkness of winter, you might feel joy being drained from your spirit. Into your deepest darkness the Christ child has come for you. And this Christ child is joy that transcends the brown of winter.

Joy, like grace, is born outside of us and is received as a gift. Joy runs deeper than happiness. Joy is ours even when the flood gates of mourning open in our lives. Joy is a result of knowing that this child is born for me. He is born for you.

Copyright Douglas P Brauner