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By Pastor Ron Rollins
When was the last time you felt a moment of pure joy? In a world that often feels overwhelmed by bad news and uncertainty, finding reasons to celebrate can seem difficult. Our days are filled with stories of war, disasters, neighborhood tensions, and illnesses affecting those we love. We carry this endless stream of distress in our pockets, constantly tempted to check our phones for updates.
It’s no wonder that words like doomscrolling, (which means spending too much time online consuming negative news or other content that makes the reader sad, anxious, or angry), have entered our vocabulary, capturing the relentless cycle of negative news, resulting rise in anxiety and depression, particularly among young people.
Even in the darkest times, we are reminded that joy is still within reach. Life in the apostle Paul’s era was far from perfect. He faced immense suffering, which he described in 2 Corinthians as “a thorn … given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Despite these trials and his eventual martyrdom, Paul urged the Christians in Philippi to hold onto hope and joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. … The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:4–5).
This Advent season, we, too, can find joy in the promise that the Lord is near, just as He was when He came to earth over 2,000 years ago as a baby born to the Virgin Mary. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took on human form, sharing our struggles and bearing the sins of all humanity. His death on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter Sunday marked His triumph over sin, death, and the devil — all for our salvation. This is truly worth celebrating. Because Jesus came, we have the assurance of God’s love and His unending care, no matter what challenges we face.
It is why we take time during December to turn to God’s Word and reflect on the incredible gift of Christ’s presence in our lives. Instead of getting caught up in doomscrolling, pause and join us in contemplating what it means that God sent His Son to earth for us. The Gospel message of Jesus Christ isn’t just good news; it’s the best news the world has ever received, and it’s meant to be shared with everyone.
We invite you to experience this message of hope at our upcoming Advent and Christmas Worship Services, themed “His Name Shall Be Called.” Visit www.stjohnnottingham.org for more details. Come and discover the profound truth of God’s love and the joy that comes with knowing His Son, Jesus Christ.
