The JOY Candle
Scripture: “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.'” (Isaiah 35.3-4)
MAIN POINT: The joy of Advent is not pretending everything is fine, but waiting with honest faith for the One who will make everything fine.
We light the rose-colored candle—the JOY candle—on the third Sunday of Advent called Gaudete, meaning “Rejoice!” But how can we celebrate joy while being honest about doubt and suffering? How do we reconcile John’s question from prison with the call to rejoice? The answer lies in understanding what Advent joy really means. It’s not the joy of pretending our struggles don’t exist. It’s not the joy of suppressing our questions or spiritualizing our pain.
The JOY candle we lit on Sunday—and light again tonight for our midweek service following our Advent meal—is rose-colored, not the full brightness of white, but a hint of the light to come. It represents the joy that breaks through even in darkness. It’s the joy John experienced even in his doubt—knowing that Jesus hears our questions, receives our messengers, doesn’t cast us out for struggling. This is Gospel joy: Jesus doesn’t require us to have it all together before coming to Him. He receives doubters, questioners, strugglers. Isaiah promises: “Your God will come and save you.” The JOY candle burns as a promise that Jesus is coming. When He returns, every question will be answered, every tear wiped away, every wrong made right.
Reflection: Advent joy is the joy of confident hope in Christ’s return, not the denial of present suffering. How have you confused genuine biblical joy with simply pretending everything is okay? What would it mean to experience “joy in waiting” during your current struggles?
Prayer: God of all hope, the JOY candle we lit today reminds me that You are coming to save us. Help me embrace the joy of confident hope even while acknowledging my struggles. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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