Verve City Church: Weekly Messages Joy of Christmas | Joy in the Dark
Dec 15, 2025
Discover how joy can thrive in the shadows of life, even during the holidays. The conversation highlights compelling stories of Simeon and Anna, illustrating that joy exists alongside grief and uncertainty. Personal anecdotes reveal the complexity of mixed feelings during this season. Explore practical ways to choose hope and be a light for others. Embrace a joy that defies darkness, reminding us that true happiness is anchored not in circumstances but in faith and community.
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Disneyland Moment Reveals Hidden Pain
- Josh Crane tells a Disneyland story where his son Will badly bumped his head while they waited in line for a ride.
- The moment showed Josh that you can be at the 'happiest place on earth' and still not feel happy.
Holidays Can Intensify Hidden Grief
- Josh Crane observes that people can feel heaviness during the holidays for many reasons like loss, distance, or exhaustion.
- He frames holiday sadness as common and anticipatable, not abnormal.
Joy Defies Darkness, Not Denies It
- Josh Crane explains the angels proclaimed joy into a world full of darkness and oppression under Rome.
- He concludes that biblical joy doesn't deny hardship but defies darkness by refusing to let it have the last word.