The holidays are supposed to be the most joyful time of the year. It’s a chance for all of us to put away our normal routines, close our work laptops, enjoy gingerbread cookies, sing Christmas hymns at church, and take a breath from the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives. People host parties and delight in yummy food (especially since Christmas calories don’t count). We get the chance to see family we’ve missed, friends we haven’t gotten to catch up with, and be present with those we love. But for some, the holidays are hard. It can be a time of grieving, loss, and loneliness.
For some, the holidays might also be a time that highlights the “gaps” in their life. Sometimes, grief visits us more during times of celebrations. Every Christmas, I grieve the death of my dad. My heart longs to watch him open his stocking, antagonize my mom with jokes, and give us a big bear hug on Christmas morning. His chair at the dinner table is empty, there are no presents for him under the tree, and his presence is deeply noticed and missed.
Grief can come in different forms. Whether you’re missing a loved one who has passed, going through a breakup or divorce, longing to have children or a spouse, or witnessing your parents getting older, the gatherings during Christmas might bring those feelings to the surface. Traditions may change.
While we go through the holidays, our heart longs for some of these hollow places in our lives. We crave togetherness, the feeling of being loved, and the need to be fulfilled.
Even during the holidays, it isn’t hard to notice that our world is struggling. In the past year, our world has been faced with issues of poverty and collapsing economies, the injustice of war in Ukraine, mass school shootings, dealing with aftereffects from a global pandemic… and that’s just to name a few. We live in a time of brokenness, corruption, and brutality.
While we go through the holidays, our heart longs for the presence of peace, stability, and the promise of a better future.
What is it that your heart is longing for this Christmas?
No matter what your response is, the question is answered by a baby laying in a manger.
1 Peter 1:3-8 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith - more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire - may result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in Him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.”
The Lord does not expect us to go through Christmas with unlimited joy and wonder. He understands and sits with us in the times we feel sadness. He holds us close when we miss those who have gone before us. He promises He is with us when we feel lonely. He praises us when we keep our faith, even though we know some have strayed away. We shouldn’t bury our emotions during Christmas, just because we feel obligated to be cheerful and jolly. We should acknowledge what our heart is asking for and share it with the Lord.
You see, when Jesus was born, a promise was fulfilled. Even through the changes of our lives and the changes of our world, He promises us an invitation “that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading”. Since sin entered into the world, God knew He would save His people. He sent His son in the form of a human. Jesus went through the same struggles we face. He grieved, felt anger, faced temptations, and went through death on a cross. He lived through our broken and unjust world.
We should be comforted because no matter what we are facing, our hearts will be filled on Christmas day. Through Jesus’ coming, we are gifted a Savior for our sadness, loneliness, and unfulfillment.
John 16:20 “Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”
John 16:22 “Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.”
Be patient this Advent season, JOY is COMING.
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