What is Holiday Joy? Reflections on Isaiah 35
By david johansson
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.” – Isaiah 35: 1-2 (ESV)
As the holidays approach it’s so easy to get caught up in the “holiday hustle.” Only a couple of weeks into the season, some of us might begin to hear or utter the words, “I already can’t wait for the holidays to be over.” The pressure of finding the perfect gift, the cheapest but nicest decorations, or picking out the most impressive holiday dinner outfit is oftentimes too overwhelming for my liking, and ultimately leads me to forget what this season is actually all about: joy.
But what is joy?
Joy isn’t rooted in the receiving of physical gifts on Christmas Day. (Fun fact: one-third of U.S. adults who receive gifts plan to return or exchange them shortly after. [1]) Joy is not just “happiness.” Happiness often hinges on comfort, good news, and pleasant experiences—things that don’t characterize everyone’s holiday season. Joy is something deeper than that; it isn’t circumstantial. Joy rests on the certainty of God’s renewal, despite difficulty.
Isaiah 35 paints an image of deserts blooming, dry places singing, personal healing, and spiritual renewal. In verses 1 and 2, the desert bursting into bloom symbolizes God bringing life and hope to places that once felt barren or broken. Joy is not only about a feeling, it’s a sign of hope and trust that’s always present, even during holiday hardships! Joy is also a command. “Rejoice” in the Lord’s goodness, Paul encourages in the book of Philippians, for God’s goodness alone is reason to praise Him. [2]
The uncircumstantial joy Jesus gives us was never meant to stay inside of us—it’s meant to be shared. As it is written, “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” [3] Joy is relational; it grows when it’s shared with others.
Let this be your gentle reminder to participate in His work of restoration—to water someone else’s dry season, bring warmth where there is cold, or to uplift those around you who are worn out or overlooked.
As we move into this holiday season, you don’t need to chase the perfect moment, the perfect gift, or the perfect version of yourself. The Lord has bigger plans for you than that! Let’s slow down long enough to notice who around us needs encouragement. Joy becomes real when we make space for God to work through us and share Him with the world.
David Johansson is a 1st year Master’s student studying Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.
Sources
[1] CivicScience, “Expected Holiday Gift Returns Up 47% This Year, Led by Gen Z,” published January 9, 2024, CivicScience https://civicscience.com/expected-holiday-gift-returns-up-47-this-year-led-by-gen-z/.
[2] Philippians 4:4 (ESV)
[3] Matthew 5:15-16 (NIV)