On that first Christmas Eve, when an angel of the Lord startled a group of ragtag shepherds with the good news of a “great joy for all people”—the shepherds immediately went off searching for it. And to be honest, some of us still approach Christmas in that fashion—namely, searching for that “great joy.”

We keep searching for it because, frankly, getting ready for Christmas can often be more of a hassle than a source of happiness. We feel pressure instead of pleasure, duty instead of delight. In short, the Christmas Season has become something that a lot of us endure, rather than enjoy!

Of course, there’s no singular reason why we sometimes feel uneasy, lonely, or even depressed during Christmas. Maybe we are at odds with our relatives and dread spending time with them. Maybe we are reminded of a recent loss—the first Christmas without a parent or spouse, or the fact that the kids won’t be coming home for the holidays. Maybe it’s more that, by year’s end, we are flat-out exhausted and can’t quite muster up the energy to have a “holly, jolly Christmas.”

Whatever the reason, I am convinced that the best way to get into the “Christmas Spirit” is to remember that what the birth of Jesus Christ signifies is God’s willingness—indeed, God’s desire—to become one with us. Think of it this way: If you really wanted someone to know the full extent of your love, you wouldn’t send that person an email or a text message. You wouldn’t even send a representative to speak on your behalf. You would go and profess your love in person—which is precisely what God does at Christmas!

Jesus is not a Christmas card from God that reads, “Wishing I was there.” Jesus is God’s way of personally declaring, “I wish to make my home among you.” Theologians call this “the Incarnation”—and what you happen to make of it will largely depend on how you understand God’s intent. If you view the Almighty as a stern taskmaster, who is just waiting for an opportunity to scold you, then the news that God has moved into the immediate neighborhood may be a bit intimidating. However, if you view God as One who already loves you, and who is just waiting for an opportunity to show you how much, then knowing that the Almighty has taken up residence in our very midst is the best news that we could have ever imagined.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that we don’t really need to go searching for the “great joy” of Christmas. It’s the other way around. What we celebrate at Christmas is that God’s “great joy” found us!