Week 3 The Joy That Finds Us

Joy isn’t something we chase in Advent—it’s something that finds us.

Isaiah 35:1 describes joy breaking into the wilderness with singing, blossoming, and gladness. This isn’t shallow happiness; it’s God bringing life where we thought nothing could grow.

In the Gospel, John sits in a prison cell, unsure and discouraged. And Jesus sends back this message: “Look for where the blind see, the lame walk, and good news reaches the poor.” In other words:

Joy is already on its way. You just may not recognize it at first.

This week, let joy surprise you.

Let it come quietly.

Let it meet you in ordinary moments or unexpected places.

Ask yourself:

Where might God be bringing joy to me in ways I haven’t noticed yet?

Where is something beginning to blossom in the “desert places” of my life?

Advent joy doesn’t depend on our circumstances.

It depends on His presence.