In this season we are met with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. There are so many to-dos that get tossed into our laps and so many things to check off the list. It is a time of year where the expectation of performance is heightened, it seems. Appearing as if we have it all together is seen as desired, and it feels as if we must put our best foot forward and seem jolly and full of joy each day. Christmas cards come from loved ones that remind us of those we cherish, and within them, are the highlights of busy, productive, and accomplishing years. People are shopping for the perfect gifts and conversations are filled with questions such as “Have you finished all your shopping this year? Have you found that gift you were searching for?” In this season of giving, receiving, celebrating, and gathering, it can be difficult though when life is just not looking as you expected. For many, this season is filled with stress - the stress of being able to afford their bills; the stress of not having the finances needed to bless those that they love; the stress of getting together with family that argues and is in conflict and who become hurtful with words and actions; the stress of celebrating this year without those that you loved due to losses that were tragic, unexpected or just that we weren’t ready for; the stress of waiting for the dream that we have prayed for yet have still not received; the stress of living with pain so unbearable that it is struggle to function throughout the day; or the stress of being burdened with a mental health issue that makes it a daily fight to make it through the day. In Matthew 12, there is reference to a prophecy in Isaiah that speaks of the type of people that the coming Lord will heal and bless. Isaiah refers to those who are like a smoldering wick and those who are a bruised reed. Oh, how this describes so many of us today. So many people are living in the reality of struggling to hold on and “stay lit” and are “bruised” from life circumstances.
These are the realities of many people we encounter, and the holidays quickly can turn into a time when we are overcome with sadness, anger, bitterness, despair, and grief. The reality of life can be difficult and with the ongoing holiday festivities, parties, gatherings, and traditions, this reality can become like a dark shadow that we carry with us and struggle to escape. It feels that people who are in these places are not given space to be authentic during this time of year. The expectation around us says that we need to shine, be merry, and live like the Hallmark movies that we all have seen and longed to have our lives resemble. Although, this is unattainable, which then can lead to a shame of not measuring up. What would happen though if the pretense were dropped and if people were given permission to be real? And if the realities of life were allowed to be present in this time and people were allowed to know of struggle without the shame that many times accompany this truth. I know personally it would allow me to feel seen, to feel that I could share how God has been working even amid the pain that I have been enduring. It would truly allow me to more fully revel in the reason that we celebrate this season. By being transparent with life difficulties, we are given the opportunity to be open about how God has moved, provided, given comfort, and been there for us in our darkest moments. As I reflect on the hard times that my family and I have faced over this last year, it can be easy to become lost in the despair of it all and feel a pit in my stomach of how we are not where we want to be, but when I remove myself from the internal and external expectations and the emotions of it all, I clearly see God’s hand at work. I see how he provided a way when we thought there was no way on more than one occasion; how he met us with his loving arms when we felt so defeated; how he comforted us in our losses; and how he reminded us of his plans for our lives. When this becomes my focus and I move away from concentrating on all the pain that has been present, my heart does begin to feel the joy of the season.
You see, in this season our focus does not need to be on all the things we have accomplished or how we have succeeded this year. We do not need to zero in on whether we had followers on social media, were the perfect SAHM, employee, boss, parent, or spouse. Our focus needs to be on what matters. We serve a God who is madly in love with us and daily yearns to remind us of how special we are in His sight. His love is not dependent on our achievements, actions, or performance or lack thereof. He is a God who sees us in whatever life has thrown our way and He deeply desires for us to bring Him into these moments, into these realities so that He can display His love for us. He wants us to be honest with Him and with others so that His light can shine in the darkness that is so present in this world. The Good News is that Jesus came so that he could gently come alongside us & save us. He speaks peacefully, offering hope and joy in our lives, not snuffing people out or trampling upon us. He does not offer a promise to physically heal us, but presents us with a living hope that will be with us in the journey of our trials & triumphs. He heals our hearts and offers us joy as we experience the internal healing that only he provides when we surrender ourselves to Him in honesty.
As we celebrate this Christmas, may we not lose focus and may we be honest. Be honest about what God is doing and what we are living with. Were you blessed beyond measure and you are sitting amid fruitful labor and seeing how God moved mountains this year? Are you welcoming life into your home and getting to witness this miracle firsthand? Are you wishing you could be with those that you loved, whether they have passed or whether they are just far away? Have you struggled daily with fighting for your life, battling against some kind of illness whether it be physical or mental? Are you facing a reality that you were not expecting in your life, be it good or bad? Whatever it is, I hope that you can be real and authentic so that we can spread the Light that truly will penetrate darkness and supply joy that cannot be diminished or put out.
