Advent Week 3: Finding Joy Beyond The Familiar
“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:39-49
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The third week of Advent shifts from contemplation to celebration. The rose candle—the Candle of Joy—reminds us that joy breaks through even in seasons that feel uncertain or unfamiliar. And for many empty nesters, joy is exactly what feels hardest to hold onto.
When the rhythms of family life change, traditions shift, and the holidays don’t look quite the same, joy can feel distant. But Advent teaches us something important: joy doesn’t depend on circumstances returning to what they once were. Joy is born from recognizing God’s presence in what is.
Mary’s joy was not based on comfort or predictability. She faced uncertainty, potential judgment, and a future she couldn’t fully understand. Yet she sang:
“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
This is joy that comes not from what is happening around us, but from what God is doing inside us.
As you light the third candle, let it remind you that joy hasn’t left your story. It’s waiting to be rediscovered in this new season of life—with new freedoms, new purpose, and new ways God wants to meet you.
Rediscovering Joy In The Unfamiliar
Joy is one of Scripture’s most unexpected gifts. It often shows up in places we least expect it—on a hillside among shepherds, in the home of Elizabeth, and in the heart of a young woman carrying the Messiah. Joy in the Bible is not shallow emotion or a denial of hardship; it is a deep, steady, soul-rooted awareness that God is present and at work.
For empty nesters, joy can feel complicated. The traditions you once cherished may look different. Holidays may involve travel, shared time with in-laws, or shorter visits. The noise of a full house may be replaced with quieter mornings or reflective evenings. It’s easy to believe that joy belonged to a previous season of life.
But Advent joy is not tied to a packed house—it is tied to a faithful God.
Mary’s joy sprang not from her circumstances, but from the truth that God saw her, chose her, and was doing something new within her. In the same way, God is at work in your life right now, even if the season feels unfamiliar. Joy grows when we shift our attention from what has changed to what God is presently doing.
The empty nest season can actually be a joyful one:
Joy in rediscovering your own gifts.
Joy in deepening your relationships.
Joy in pursuing dreams you set aside for years.
Joy in serving others with renewed freedom.
Joy in spending time with God without constant interruption.
Joy also grows when you release the pressure to recreate the past and instead embrace the beauty God is revealing now. The traditions may shift, but the meaning remains. The gatherings may be smaller, but the love is not.
Advent Joy invites you to celebrate God’s faithfulness, not just in the season behind you but in the season right in front of you. Joy is not something you need to chase—it is something God births in your heart as you stay open, grateful, and attentive.
As you light the rose candle, let it remind you:
Joy is not gone. It is being reborn.
Why This Is Important
During the empty nest season, joy can feel overshadowed by nostalgia or sadness. Advent Joy lifts your eyes to see what God is doing now, not just what used to be. It strengthens your heart, renews your spirit, and restores your ability to delight in God’s presence and the life He is shaping – Yours!
God’s Consistency (Past → Present → Future)
Past: God brought joy to His people through the arrival of Jesus (Luke 2:10-11).
Present: Jesus fills believers with His joy today (John 15:11; Romans 15:13).
Future: Eternal joy awaits in God’s restored kingdom (Revelation 21:3–4).
Joy in this season often looks different—less activity-driven, more reflective. It shows up in small moments: shared coffee, a quiet walk, renewed hobbies, spiritual growth, serving others, reconnecting with purpose. Advent Joy frees you from comparing seasons and invites you to delight in the new gifts God has placed before you.
Nest Steps:
Ask yourself:
Where have you recently seen God doing something that sparked joy?
Could that be God inviting me to experience a new joy in this chapter of my life?
Then ask Him:
What may I be overlooking that could be a source of joy?
Lord show me the joy You are bringing into this season of my life.
And Take This Nest Action:
Take a minute or two to breathe deeply, slow down, and whisper this breath prayer: “Lord, open my eyes to Your everyday goodness.”
My prayer for you is the blessing of unimaginable joy and purpose. If he has done it for others, He will do it for you.
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