When the Holidays Are Not Happy or Merry

If your year has been anything like mine, it has been a year of endings. I have experienced the ending of many relationships and I have been relinquished of many titles. To add to that, at this time of year I am deeply and dearly missing loved ones who ended their earthly walk years ago. 

I know it has been difficult to stay positive and upbeat. I know your mood may not be very merry and your life may be anything but calm and bright but I want you to be encouraged and remember the promises that began to come into fruition during the time we are observing as Christmas.

It is my prayer that if we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season that we can be joyful, at peace and merry. We celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time and we should remember that through his birth, at that exact time, to those exact parents and in that exact place, promises from God became concrete. People had been waiting, calculating, hoping and it finally happened. The book of Luke gives us an account of the challenging circumstances under which Jesus was born. It tells us how God orchestrated the entire situation so that Jesus was born exactly as it had been prophesied. When the angels appeared to the shepherds in Luke 2:11, he said: "The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!" Upon receiving this news, the shepherds didn't ask the angels who the Messiah was. This further confirmed that this was surely a topic that had been discussed; a promised and expected event.

In Luke 2:25,26, we read about Simeon: "At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him  and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah." Simeon was waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. He was in expectation of the Lord's Messiah and was happy to hear of his birth because he knew that Jesus was coming to save us.

So, what does this mean for us? The birth of Jesus was prophesied long before his actual birth took place. People were in great expectation of this event because they knew it would create a shift that would benefit God's people beyond what could ever be imagined. AND IT HAPPENED EXACTLY AS GOD PROMISED!     

What else has God promised us?

God promises us that He has made plans for us. Plans for future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11). He promised us that if we are heavy of heart and overburdened that He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28, 29). He promised that if we trust Him and wait on Him, He will renew our strength (Isaiah 40:29-30). He promised to supply all of our needs (Phillipians 4:19). He said that victory is ours through Christ who loved us (Romans 8:37-39).

We know that it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). He wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to send Jesus as our salvation to leave us now.

Contributed by: Veronica F.

Enter Into Prayer

Father we come to you right now on behalf of all those laden down with heavy hearts. Those missing loved ones who have finished their earthly walks. Those feeling alone at this time because they are unmarried. Those who feel less than merry because they don't have children to share this time of childlike wonder with. I pray that all are reminded of the great care You took to ensure that Jesus arrival on earth happened exactly as you promised it would. I pray that they remember your promise at Matthew 11:28, 29 that we can find rest in You, Father. We pray that their strength is renewed as you promised us in Isaiah 40:29, 30. We pray that they believe You when you say at Jeremiah 29:11 that you made plans for us, Father. Plans for a future and of hope.

Father we pray that reflection on the gift that was given to us through Christ Jesus will help us to remember that the birth of Jesus was the beginning to the path that brought us closer to you.

We love you, Father. We adore you. We thank you and we put our trust in You at all times. In the mighty name of Jesus, we thank you for loving us enough to pay the ultimate price--make the ultimate sacrifice. A life for the lives of many. Amen.