Hope for The Holidays

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Christmas isn’t always the most wonderful time of the year.

Songs and movies like to paint beautiful pictures of the holidays, but most of us know that life is rarely that rosy.

Beyond the decorations, the lights, the food and other festivities, hurting hearts are longing for relief.

As much as Christmas has the power to be comforting and joyful, it also has the power to significantly magnify feelings like grief and loneliness.

Maybe you lost a loved one and the emptiness of the holidays seems unbearable.

Maybe you recently lost an important relationship, or you feel the weight of familial estrangement.

Maybe you struggle with a chronic illness and are struggling to be content this Christmas, wondering how much better life would be if you had a healthy body.

Loss hurts. Christmas has a way of making that pain seem even more acute.

And you know what? That’s okay.

If you don’t feel like celebrating this year, you don’t have to justify that to anyone. Christmas is hard and it’s okay to feel that deeply.

If you’re struggling this holiday season, I want to encourage your heart with truth.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalms 34:18

God doesn’t promise to take your pain away, but He promises to be near to you. Christmas reinforces this truth in such beautiful ways.

Jesus left heaven to draw nearer to us. Literally.

He left perfection to be a helpless baby. He left his holy home to live among wretches, sinners and thieves. He came to dwell among us. He came to be with us and make a way for us to be with Him forever.

Friend, you can find comfort in the presence of the Lord this holiday season.

God doesn’t expect you to be holly and jolly this Christmas… you don’t have to fake it for Him or anyone else.

God sent His Son to dwell among us and bring our hurting hearts hope.

God still wants you to find hope in that today.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10

God will give you strength this holiday season. He will hold you close. He will even carry you if He has to.

When you feel too weak to hold on to Him, let Him hold onto you.

Let His presence comfort you in your heartache.

Remember His love and His dedication to drawing near to you this Christmas and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Christmas doesn’t have to be merry and bright to be beautiful.

-Alathia