Global leaders often promote reliance on their strength, power, and wisdom. In contrast, God’s enduring leadership is characterized by unwavering love, justice, and support for the marginalized. This utilization of the power dynamic underscores the Almighty’s ultimate authority. Understanding God’s actions naturally fosters trust and security, which leads to peace, joy, and hope, even amidst adversity. Recognizing God’s influence in the world and our personal lives nurtures gratitude and appreciation for God’s faithfulness. Belief in God’s benevolence, justice, and power provides security and hope, even in challenging circumstances. Aligning our lives with God’s will and striving to emulate God’s character allows us to participate in God’s work of blessing the world. This participation encourages Christ’s followers to defend the oppressed, provide for the needy, liberate the captive, and heal the broken. Witnessing, participating, and experiencing these acts cultivates profound gratitude and joy. Ultimately, when we actively acknowledge God’s work and align ourselves with God’s will, we experience the blessings of God’s righteous reign and contribute to a more blessed world.

5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7  who executes justice for the oppressed,
    who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Psalm 146:5-10.

God’s multifaceted nature is revealed through God’s actions: God is the Creator, the faithful, the just judge, the provider, the deliverer, and the protector of the vulnerable. Each act showcases a distinct aspect of God’s character and concern for God’s people’s well-being while embodying justice, compassion, mercy, and deliverance. The Almighty provides, protects, and defends the vulnerable. God’s tangible care for the people’s physical needs is evident in providing food for the hungry and delivering people from the bondage of sin. These actions demonstrate God’s attentiveness to suffering and a willingness to intervene. God’s love and watchful care over sojourners highlight God’s unwavering commitment to the faithful through offering refuge and protection to those who seek God. Recognizing these facets of God’s character fosters security, hope, and gratitude, all of which contribute to the joy that fills us with awe as we acknowledge the depth and breadth of God’s actions on our behalf. This realization ignites a profound and enduring sense of well-being that stems from knowing we are loved and cared for by an all-powerful and eternally faithful God.

Human efforts to create joy fall short because humanity’s power is insignificant compared to God’s. They are temporary, and their plans fail no matter how good their intentions are. God, however, reigns eternally and has a power that is not limited by time or circumstance; it is enduring and unchanging. This understanding brings peace and stability to those who trust in God, knowing that their ultimate hope and security rests in the Almighty, which is unchanging and all-powerful. In a world of uncertainty and change, seeking security in tangible material possessions, social status, or human relationships is tempting. However, the Psalm above reminds us that proper security can only be found in God. When faced with difficult circumstances, we can quickly become overwhelmed by fear and anxiety if we rely solely on our strength and resources. However, remembering that God’s power is more consequential than any challenge we face can provide comfort and courage. Recognizing God as the Creator of heaven and earth reminds us that God has ultimate authority and control over all situations.

Even amidst pain and sorrow, God, the source of joy, continually blesses humanity. Where God’s justice, provision, and protection provide constant realities for those who trust in God’s providence, fostering enduring joy even in dark times, we are made aware of God’s tangible acts of love—providing for the hungry, freeing prisoners, and upholding the oppressed—bring joy and gratitude to those who experience them. Jesus, embodying God’s love, exemplified these attributes through his actions, emphasizing that God’s blessings are not confined to specific moments but revealed throughout history, offering hope and joy to all believers.

When recognized, God’s actions and significance cultivate joy, not as a fleeting emotion, but as a deep-seated confidence in His goodness and power. This confidence is grounded in His unchanging character, faithfulness, and commitment to upholding justice and caring for the vulnerable. Advent celebrates the first coming of Christ, acknowledging that God has already fulfilled His promise of sending a Savior into the world. Similar to recognizing God’s actions in Psalm 146, this realization is a cause for profound joy. We rejoice because God has acted decisively to redeem humanity, demonstrating His love and faithfulness. Advent also acknowledges that Christ’s kingdom has not yet fully come. We still live in a world marked by suffering, injustice, and brokenness. The fullness of God’s redemption and the ultimate realization of His kingdom remain a future hope. This “not yet” aspect can temper our joy with longing and anticipation. We yearn for the day when God’s reign will be fully established, and all creation will experience the fullness of His shalom. Therefore, the connection between joy and blessing in Advent can be understood as a dynamic interplay between gratitude for what God has done and hopeful anticipation for what He will accomplish. Recognizing and appreciating God’s actions can help us cultivate a more profound sense of joy during Advent and throughout our lives. This joy, rooted in God’s faithfulness and fueled by hope in His promises, sustains us as we journey toward the fullness of God’s kingdom.

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Published by JRMITCH85

I am often asked what describes you, which is a hard answer because sometimes I move in a thousand different directions. Some call me an engineer, others call me pastor, a few call me captain, some call me friend, others call me dad, and one calls me sweetheart. All of these things are descriptors and are accurate, but they don't fully capture me. My favorite place is in the mountains, enjoying the beauty of nature and God's creation, running and hiking around with my family and friends, and taking photos to cement the memories. However, the people that know me the best know that my favorite thing to do is come up with crazy adventures that push the limits of what our minds and bodies can do. My faith in God is important to me and drives me to look at creation the way I do. Because of my faith, I look at these adventures and running races from Half Marathons all the way to 24 hour races, as well as several Obstacle Course Races, as an opportunity to push the body God gave me as an act of worship. Hopefully, someday soon, I look toward running longer races and bigger adventures. My hope is that humanity can understand that the wild is a gift, and we need to care for it and quit destroying it by the way we live.

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