I wrote this during the Christmas season and though I posted it on Facebook, I wanted to repost it here as my first "official' blog.
Tis the season to be jolly we're told. All of Christmas marketing is based on the premise that this season will deliver all the preset expectations.
It's almost as if Christmas cheer is automatically expected to just overtake as easily as we switch on those Christmas lights on our tree.
But to many, Christmas which is supposed to be the "happiest season of all", just serves as a reminder of their lack of reasons to celebrate and underlines their inability to embrace joy in this season.
For some, it's that estranged relationship that's still estranged, for others it's the absence of a loved one that was lost to sickness or tragedy. For others it's the bad choices they're having to live with and feeling the heaviness of their failures.
For some it's promises unfulfilled, or simply feeling overwhelmed by living in a fallen world and seeing all the brokenness around us. For others it's just the exhaustion likened to that of a warrior still standing after the battle of 2014.
We all know the list could go on.
Though none of these are reasons in themselves to celebrate, Christmas does present us with a hope, to those of us who choose to believe beyond the Christmas hype and consumerist propaganda and see hope found in that baby in the manger. Jesus's birth changes everything.
That's the only reason we can rejoice, that's where our weary souls can find rest.
Maybe our present condition doesn't allow us to really reach those joyous levels those around us find themselves in, but if we can just grasp the fullness of the birth of our Saviour, how eternity met us in our weakest moment and brought a purpose to whatever we may encounter in our lives.
Nothing is wasted: not our pain, our losses, our failures, our perseverance, not even our mistakes.
That puts way more weight to the joy of Christmas. It's not some giddy fluffy feeling we get from Christmas parties, lights, gifts, family gatherings,- it's a weighty joy that may look more like peace in our hearts.
More like a resolute trust that God loved us so much, He sent His only Son in our place, in our rescue, to build a bridge, to redeem all that's been taken from us, to redeem all that we have lost, EVEN when caused by our own neglect and stupidity.
He came to make sense of everything- the pain, the sorrow, the joys, the victories. Only Jesus can help us overlook those unpleasant, often overwhelming and stretching moments: by inviting us to gaze into His wondrous glorious light.It will overtake whatever darkeness of the soul and open our eyes to what lies behind Christmas and what lies ahead in eternity!
It may feel like a vintage church song, but it's words still resonate the truth: that as you "Turn your eyes upon Jesus look full In His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the Light of His Glory and Grace."
Have a Hope-filled, Jesus-saturated Christmas!
