Insight into the immensity of this gift grows ever greater as the angel continues to speak. They shall personally have joy and gladness, because the period of waiting for God’s answer has come to an end.
God has unparalleled ability to give joy in the soul. He knows all that prevents our joy. He knows all the sadnesses that trouble us, and everything that inhibits our joy. The child of God cannot rejoice over small things, over things that leave unresolved the deep needs that man has. There is an honesty about the believer that prevents him rejoicing over what is not important, for to rejoice is to entrust ourselves to our joys as reliable and true, and genuinely able to lift the soul. When joy really comes and when the ground of joy is really met for the believer, that joy is enduring and powerful. Sin makes us sad: God’s frown is upon us, and we know that until we see his smile again, real joy will evade us. To give ourselves over to some transient joy is to store up disappointment for the future.
Woe to those who say that life in the womb is not real life and can therefore be dispensed with!