With gifts wrapped and under the tree, Christmas Eve came to a close. God’s goodness had been evident, but this year was different. Unfolding blankets and sheets, my husband and I created beds of the two couches in our family room. My husband’s parents, who live in town, were using our bedroom upstairs. Three months earlier, their oldest son—and only other child—had ended his life. Keeping them close, we wanted to remind them of what they still had as they continued to grieve what had been lost.
Christmas can be complicated. While parties, gifts, and family reunions are certainly blessings, they can’t take away the pain of broken relationships, absent loved ones, or unmet expectations. Without question, God is the Unchanging One who is the giver of all good gifts (James 1:17). But He is also a God who is well- acquainted with our suffering (Isaiah 53:3). Even the humble beauty of the nativity remains incomplete without the cross.
Not your typical Advent passage, Revelation 21 reminds us that we will one day experience a new heaven and new earth. The purpose in Christ putting on flesh was to restore what had been lost. God with us (Matthew 1:23). He not only comforts us in our sorrows, but He has promised that “He will live with [us], and [we] will be His people. God Himself will be with [us]” (Revelation 21:3). The turmoil present in the world reminds us, “All creation has been groaning . . . . And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us . . . for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering” (Romans 8:22-23). Anxiously awaiting Jesus’ return, we are to celebrate His hope as He holds us in both our joy and our pain.
More:
It was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins! (Isaiah 53:4).
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Are there aspects of this Christmas season that have been difficult for you? Why must hope be something we choose and not a feeling we wait to experience?
AManofGod on December 25, 2010 at 1:24 am
AMEN AMEN AMEN!
Although I love the holiday season it is a time of remorse for me as well. My father died on December 23rd [2003] and this is the first Christmas since my marriage officially ended. It’s so difficult to be around your children AND your ex and still be in a joyous festive mood sometimes. Added to that the thoughts of my father who has gone to rest….it’s a very trying time for me indeed.
Your words brought me great comfort and I thank you because I really needed them today. I must remember that the Lord will comfort me in my sorrows and be with me always…..even when earthly relationships have ended and people have gone on to glory God is always there.’
Thanks you for reminding me of that.
Merry Christmas!
AManofGod
cspevacek on December 25, 2010 at 7:16 am
Regina, like Man of God, I also thank you for todays reading. This past year has been a really bad one for my family with debilitating and terminal disease, broken relationships, deep personal disappointments, devistating financial difficulties and I could go on. We were so overwhelmed that we weren’t looking forward to Christmas at all. But were not looking at any of the good that happened either, other relationships were repaired, some were healed of bad illnessses, other found employment, a family member moved home after twenty years and most of all through it all we still have each other. God has been here all along and we are finally seeing Him and the wonderful gift of love that He has for each of us. I know all the other things are and will remain but with God all things are tolerable. ManofGod I have been reading your posts and am praying for daily with hope that next year you will be on a much better plain. God Bless You All!
anj1990 on December 25, 2010 at 10:00 am
Thank u 4 that encouraging word today, recently my family and I have gone through alot . Personally my relationship with my father is at it’s worst point than it’s ever been in my entire life, dealt with 2 additional failed courtships, my best friend coming back into my life after running off with her boyfriend (for almost a year), had 2 leave 2 jobs and I’m in the process of recovering from a 7-year streak of depression and still going to school; all occuring throughout this year.Although I’ve been working on my relationship with God recently, there are some days where I just feel like curling up in a ball. Please keep me in prayer as I will try my best to do the same. Thank you,God bless you and have a blessed and Merry Christmas 🙂
AManofGod on December 25, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Cspevacek,
Thank you for the warm thougths and prayers. With Christian brethren like you and the others on ODJ my spirits are lifted more than you know. Also when I think of all God has given me I almost feeling greedy when I moan about the crosses I bear in relation to what Jesus went through for us!
I pray for peace and joy and the Love of God to be in all hearts now and in the year to come. God Bless everyone, our families and our friends.
AManofGod
redeemed512 on December 25, 2010 at 8:26 pm
God is alive and He speaks through His people and this devotional is not different. God’s message is also always on time. I had been having doubts of being active again in the ministry. This year has brought me so much pain and frustration. But today’s message has given me so much encouragement and reminded me that ONLY GOD can put a period on what I am now as His servant. Thank you and may you be blessed a thousand fold the year to come. God bless.
conmeo on December 25, 2010 at 9:19 pm
Thank you
Regina and all the brothers and sisters at ODJ. I have read this over and over today just trying to get through this day. What a time to be alone. But God is with me (Immanuel) and I have a hope that this darkness will leave. Peace be with you all.