WAITING ON JOY (Christmas Collection)

Christmas Eve feels endless for little ones awaiting Christmas morning. But for tired moms and dads, Christmas comes in the twinkling of an eye.

My sister Mary and I planned for weeks to make our children’s dreams come true each Christmas. When the big day drew nigh, we sent them off to bed on Christmas Eve with a hug and a pat on their pj bottoms.

“Get some sleep! Santa’s on his way!”

Despite that promise, the kids tossed and turned till their groans reached our ears.

“Is it time to get up?”

“Not yet!” We called through the darkness with a knowing smile, our hands busy with the work of love beneath the tree.

Once every detail was in place, we dragged our tired slippers up the stairs to rest. Much too soon, we awakened to a great shout of joy and a stampede of tiny feet.

“Momma! Momma! Santa came!”

Every minute spent working and waiting through the night was worth it in the morning.

2 Peter 3:8 says, “1,000 years are like a day” to God, which explains a lot.

Then, a day on earth must be like 1,000 Christmas Eves. 

As we wrestle with doubts, waiting, and wondering if God hears our cries or knows our longings, our faithful Father is tirelessly working to fulfill every promise and dream.

“If only we could get a peek,” we moan. But if you tiptoed through the darkness to see what God’s assembling, you might lose more than you gain.

Because every hard-working Santa knows this: Joy increases with the wait and the surprise. 

When you love someone, you desire to give them every ounce of joy within your power.

God is great. God is good. He loves you with an everlasting love.

One glorious morning, eternity will break forth like the dawn of Christmas morn. 

“Surprise!” The angels will shout.

Jesus will descend from Heaven and flip on the light.

You will see what God has prepared for you with your own eyes. Loved ones feared lost will be found; hopes thought dead will be resurrected.

Weeping, suffering, and sin will vanish like the darkness that bows to Jesus, the bright and Morning Star.

Your long, hard season will be over; your joy will never end.

Try to rest. Christmas is almost here.

“Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)