joyful tidings 2025

The theme of my current school year happens to be “Let’s Make a Joyful Noise,” which has had me reflecting on joy earlier than my annual Joyful Tidings update. The theme, stated as a collective “let us,” signals that joy is not just for the individual, but the whole of God’s people. In Scripture, joy is often accompanied by noises like shouting or singing. We see this in Isaiah 12:6 - “Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Indeed, I have been learning to sing this portion of Scripture alongside our students during weekly chapels. Delightfully, I sometimes even hear the children singing it to themselves outside the classroom.

It takes a good company of others (or in my case, children) to direct our hearts towards joy in Christ rather than our circumstances. This has been especially true in the back part of this year confronting deceit, betrayal, vengeance, and greed - the very fallen human condition that Christ came to this very earth to save! My joy comes believing in faith that Christ is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). I yearn for the day that He will wipe away every tear as I still shed them now. And this Christmas I yet rejoice that He has come and is coming again.

Joy is an ever present theme in the Christmas story as we see the announcing of a Savior to the wise men (Matthew 2:10), the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaping for joy (Luke 1:44), and the angels bringing good news of great joy to the shepherds (Luke 2:10). Will you, together with me and the saints of old, make a joyful noise to Him who brings hope to our dark world?