“Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy! Oh tidings of comfort and joy.” You would think I would be done with Christmas carols by now. The radio has stopped playing any Christmas music, of course, and we are no longer singing carols at church. But “tidings of comfort and joy” continues to echo in my mind even after all my Christmas decorations are packed away, out of sight and out of mind for another year. Still, the words “comfort and joy” persist, remaining with me.

Maybe they should be my new words of the year? I don’t think there’s a rule stating I can only have one word per year, is there? My word for the year has been “hope” for at least the last three years running. Perhaps I have been holding onto “hope” for too long at this point? Pun intended, although I don’t ever want to give up hope, whether figuratively, by choosing a different word, or literally.

However, I am intrigued by the combination of the words “comfort and joy.” I don’t usually think of these two words as going together. Still, the more I think about them – the more I realize how much I long for each of these two things in my life – comfort and joy. I need them both. I would welcome more of each into my life. The reasons for this are self-explanatory. Life can be hard and painful, we all need comfort to sustain us during times of loss and sadness. And joy – who doesn’t want more joy in their life? Moments of joy may be few and fleeting, but I cherish them and crave more of them in my life, as you probably do also.

Why are the words “tidings of comfort and joy” in a Christmas carol? Perhaps because the news of Christ’s birth is a tiding that brings both comfort and joy to all mankind. The angels said as much to the shepherds when they announced Jesus’s birth –

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’ ” (Luke 2:10-11)

The news of Jesus’s birth was cause for joy – great joy. I read this in Matthew about how the Magi received the news of Jesus’s birth –

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:10)

The Magi were overjoyed to see the star because the star would lead them to the child, the King, the Savior that they were earnestly seeking. And it did just that!

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus’s birth was definitely an occasion that brought much joy to everyone. The word “joy” was prominent on some of the Christmas cards I received this year. I also received a Christmas gift that was the word “joy” in handcrafted letters strung together, ready to hang on a tree or otherwise display. And another Christmas gift I received was a decoration with the words “wishing you peace, comfort and joy.” I have been sensing a theme. BUT –

so much of daily life, of my current circumstances and situations, is painful, that it seems difficult if not impossible for joy to breakthrough, let alone to enter in with the intent to abide. But Jesus is joy. His arrival brings joy. Jesus came to abide. Joy is here to stay!

Even so, I am still in need of comfort on a daily basis. In fact, I crave comfort. Fortunately, Jesus’s arrival brings me comfort as well as joy. Isaiah talked about this when he said –

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, . . . And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:1-2 & 5)

Jesus’s birth brought great comfort to all those who had been waiting long for God’s promised Deliverer, Messiah, Savior and King. This is particularly true for Simeon, who took much comfort and joy in seeing for himself the newborn Savior, Jesus. We read Simeon’s story in Matthew –

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.’ ” (Luke 2:25-32)

“the consolation of Israel” aka, the comfort of Israel, what God promised Simeon he would see for himself before he died, had arrived! Jesus had been born and Simeon had the joy and the comfort of beholding God’s salvation with his own eyes right there in the temple courts. Jesus’s birth not only brought Simeon comfort and joy, (he said he could now die in peace) but Jesus’s birth was also to bring comfort and joy to Israel and eventually to all who would believe on His name.

Surely, the news of Jesus’s birth, or the “tidings” were indeed tidings of both comfort and of joy to all who, like Simeon, had waited with longing for God to make good on His promise to send them a Savior who would rescue all people from the death sentence their own sin had brought them. What joy to have my death sentence lifted! What comfort to know I am forgiven and loved unconditionally! The message of Christmas, therefore, is one of both comfort and joy – two things I definitely desire.

I have found that knowing Jesus and walking with Him, brings me both comfort and joy on a daily basis. These are two priceless gifts His Presence bestows that I never want to take for granted. So I think I will choose “comfort” and “joy” as my words for this New Year. I will be thankful for all the ways His Presence comforts me in my troubles and for all the moments of joy I experience in His Presence.

I pray for each of you, too, dear readers, that 2025 will bring you many moments of comfort and of joy as you not only hear the tidings of this good news that the Savior has come, BUT you actually experience for yourself His Presence as you walk with Him into this New Year. (previous post -“walking into the New Year”)

“You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

“I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

may God give you each His comfort and His joy in this New Year –

sincerely, Grace Day