Unexpected Joy (Neh. 8:10)
Life often surprises us with joy in the most unexpected ways, especially during times of hardship. One of my fondest memories comes from a difficult season in my childhood. My parents had divorced, and we didn’t have a home. My mom, siblings, and I moved in with my grandma, who welcomed us into her small, beautifully decorated apartment.
As Christmas approached, we knew it would be a tough one. We didn’t have much, and a white Christmas in central Texas seemed like a distant dream. During Christmas break, we watched the clear skies, and our hearts sank. It seemed there would be no snow. But my grandma, ever hopeful, simply smiled and said, “You never know, it might still snow!”
On the first day back at school, we came home to find the apartment transformed. “Guess what?” Grandma grinned. “It snowed!” We walked into the living room and found it filled with packing peanuts—snowflakes of love. She had gone to the post office, filled her car with as many as it could hold, and sprinkled them throughout the room. We dove in, laughing and making “snow angels,” while she served us hot chocolate.
It wasn’t the snow we had hoped for, but it was the unexpected joy of her love and creativity that filled our hearts. That memory has stayed with me, reminding me that true joy doesn’t come from perfect circumstances, but from the love we share and the way God provides—even in small, surprising ways.
Years later, when I had children of my own, I recreated that moment for them. They loved it just as much as we had, and I gained a deeper appreciation for my grandmother’s loving gesture—and her patience in cleaning up all those packing peanuts!
The Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” In this verse, the people of Israel were rejoicing after a long and difficult journey, having completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. After all the struggles they faced, they were able to look back and celebrate not only the accomplishment but the joy they found in the process. Nehemiah encouraged them to enjoy the moment, to share in the joy with others, and to remember that joy is not just about circumstances—it’s about the strength we draw from the Lord.
This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s remember that the greatest joy comes from Him. His joy fills our hearts with hope and peace that surpass all understanding. Just like that unexpected “snow,” God’s joy often arrives in surprising forms, filling our lives with light and love.