When Joy Comes Unexpectedly!

Day 7: Sunday, December 15, 2024

“But he replied, ‘The man who healed me told me, Pick up your mat and walk.’” – John 5:11 NLT

Okay, let me be honest for a second! The verse of the day was supposed to be 1 John 5:11, but your girl accidentally wrote down John 5:11 in the guide instead! Haha! But you know what? I decided to roll with it because this verse is a perfect reminder of a truly joyful moment.

In John 5, we meet a man who had been lying by the Pool of Bethesda for 38 years. Thirty-eight years! He waited for the water to bubble up so he could be healed, but every time, someone beat him to it. Can you imagine the hopelessness and discouragement he must have felt? Then, one day, everything changed.

Jesus approached him and asked, “Would you like to get well?” The man explained how he had no one to help him into the pool, and someone always got there first. But Jesus didn’t need the bubbling water to perform a miracle. He simply said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” Instantly, the man was healed.

What’s so beautiful about this story is that the man’s breakthrough came when he least expected it—and on the Sabbath, no less. Sometimes joy works the same way. We might find ourselves stuck in a mess, discouraged and waiting, and then suddenly, God shows up. Our prayers are answered, peace fills our hearts, or we experience a breakthrough that reminds us He’s been there all along.

If you’re struggling to find joy this season, take heart. Joy often arrives when we least expect it. It’s not about the perfect circumstances or a specific emotion; it’s about expecting Jesus to move in your life because He is our hope and joy.

Today, let this story inspire you to move your body with gratitude and joy, whether you’re walking, dancing, or simply stretching. Stand up, pick up your mess, and give it to Jesus. Then walk freely in Kingdom Confidence, trusting that joy—His joy—is either here or on its way.

Let’s stay expectant, friends. Not in the result, but in Him.

Looking for more encouragement this Advent season? Download the Shift to Jesus: An Advent Journey to Faith & Fitness Guide at Shift Worthy Ministries and experience the joy of moving closer to Jesus in every part of your life.