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Tidings of Comfort and Joy

God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.
Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day.
To save us all from satan’s power when we were gone astray.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy


Until I started paying closer attention to the lyrics of songs (probably around age 15), I didn’t care for this particular carol. It seemed so dismal with its minor chords and chant-like phrasing. But then I started really hearing it, not just listening.

These powerful lyrics are appropriate, especially for the challenges we have faced this year. In the first verse, the singer encourages and prays for God to keep (rest) you in joy (merry) and for nothing to cause you distress (dismay). The next line is pretty simple to understand:

REMEMBER CHRIST OUR SAVIOR WAS BORN ON CHRISTMAS DAY.

Wow. That’s reason enough for comfort and joy. Despite everything- trust me, I know-Christ came to die for us. We have been through a season of sickness, tragedy, and despair. Just when we have uttered the words “how can it get any worse” the unimaginable wrecks us. We are kept by God and can remember that because of Jesus, we can be comforted. 

As you hold your family close this week, let us remember. Remember the heartache, remember the loss, remember the year that has changed us all. But let us also remember that our Savior was born. We couldn’t get to Heaven on our own. So He brought Heaven down.

Jesus loves you, friend. You are worthy and matter. So my prayer for you is that you will rest in the comfort and joy of the good news that Jesus was born, and this changed everything in history. Will it now change everything in your history?

I send you tidings of comfort and joy. Merry Christmas!

Please enjoy my favorite version of this carol below...



© Jill Cook, Unbroken & Undone Ministries. All rights reserved.

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