Nevertheless  

Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. [2] The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. [3] Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. [4] For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. [5] For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. [6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. 


Isaiah 9:1-7

So much of life turns on that single word, "nevertheless." People perish in car crashes every day in Atlanta; nevertheless, I will drive home today. Marriages often end in divorce in our culture; nevertheless, Maria and I got married. Children so often break their parents' hearts; nevertheless, we prayed for children and rejoiced when they were born. God so often disappoints me, permitting or even causing pain and heartache in my life; nevertheless, I will trust in him.

Joy is tranquility transcending circumstances. Not the happiness which results from happenings. If someone can take your joy, it wasn't joy. If someone can give you joy, it isn't joy. Joy is that inner serenity and tranquility which nothing in life can give or steal.

Who of us doesn't need such joy? Life is hectic for us all during these holidays. Some of us remember those not with us for this Christmas. Some of us are lonely and alone. Some of us are facing an uncertain new year. We all need joy. But there's only one way to find it: in the word "nevertheless." Let me explain.

Christ gives nevertheless joy

"Nevertheless" is a common word in the Bible.

Psalm 73:21-23: "Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand."

Psalm 106:43-45: "Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity. Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry: And he remembered for them his covenant..."

Luke 22:42: "Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

Isaiah 8 finds Israel in gloom and distress: "And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead (distressed) and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness." (vs. 21-22).

And things will only get worse for the people. In coming years their cities will be ransacked, their Temple reduced to rubble, their people enslaved by pagan Babylon.

But Isaiah can proclaim, "Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: ... upon them hath the light shined." Instead, the Lord "hast multiplied the nation, and increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil."

Why? How can they have such tranquility transcending their circumstances? Because of verse 6: "unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."

Before we go to Him for our joy, let's consider the alternatives.

Thomas Aquinas said, "Man cannot live without joy; therefore when he is deprived of true spiritual joys it is necessary that he become addicted to carnal pleasures."

But do the alternatives work? A century ago, the average lifespan was 41 years; now it is 77; plagues such as polio, smallpox, and measles have been defeated. Our real income, adjusted for inflation, has more than doubled in the last 50 years.

However, the percentage of Americans who describe themselves as "happy" has not budged since the 1950s, despite doubling our income.

"Unipolar" depression, a condition in which a person always feels depressed, is today ten times as prevalent as it was half a century ago.

How to have nevertheless joy

So let's consider nevertheless joy. This is seeking our tranquility in Christ and not circumstances. In eternity and not events. In God and not people. How do we find it?

Trust His purpose. As Isaiah describes, Christ is our Wonderful Counselor. "Wonderful" in the Hebrew means "so full of wonder as to be miraculous." "Counselor" points to a person of such wisdom that he can advise kings, the wisest man in the land. The two together can be translated, "He who plans wonderful things."

The world cannot give us such purpose, or steal it. Paul was as much an apostle to the Gentiles when he wrote letters from a Roman prison cell as he was preaching in a Roman marketplace. The way your life purpose is fulfilled can change, but the purpose will not.

Where do you need direction and counsel? Will you seek His will, live by His word, surrender to His purpose? Will you make Him your Wonderful Counselor, no matter what your world says, despite all appearances, nevertheless? Then you'll have His joy.

Seek his power. The baby in the manger is also the Mighty God, translated literally, "the God who possesses might." No circumstance could steal his power. Frederick Buechner is right: for all his enormous power, Herod the Great knew there was somebody in diapers more powerful still.

And no circumstance can take his power from His people. John was as empowered to receive the Revelation on Patmos as he was at Ephesus. Peter could walk on stormy seas and face murderous officials, in this power.

So can you. Where do you need strength beyond your circumstances and ability? Courage to face the future, resolve to refuse temptation and do what is right? Will you seek His power and strength? Will you make Him your Mighty God, no matter what your world says, despite all appearances, nevertheless? Then you'll have His joy.

Live in his presence. Jesus is also our Everlasting Father. In the Hebrew, a "Father forever," one who is always a Father to us, one who forever loves us as only a father can.

No circumstance can change His love. He is a Father, not an employer, general, or owner. And a father is obligated to love his children, simply because they are his children.

Where have you failed, fallen, sinned? Where do you carry secret shame in your soul? Will you seek his forgiveness and cleansing grace? Will you make him your Everlasting Father, no matter what your world says, despite all appearances, nevertheless? Then you'll have His joy.

Don't settle for less. Don't settle for happiness based on happenings. C. S. Lewis was right: "Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."

Make the Jesus your Wonderful Counselor, your Mighty God, your Everlasting Father. Do it no matter what your world says, despite all appearances, nevertheless. And you'll have His joy.

This is the promise of God.