While the holidays can be a time of excitement, anticipation, joy, and hope, for many, this time of year can be painful.

The heartache can come for many reasons; a recent death of a loved one, sorrow, sickness, sadness, tragedy, and family conflicts can all contribute to a less than Merry Christmas.

This time of year you may find yourself driving by decorated store fronts coupled with carols in the background while quietly wondering, “Where is this hope and joy that everyone is singing about?”

You may have even genuinely thought and felt both hope and joy before, but circumstances beyond your control have left you feeling anything but merry.

As a Christian, how can you find joy during the Christmas season despite the deep sadness and sorrow you can sometimes feel, especially around this time of year?

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. A good place to start rediscovering joy is for us to reason together, consider, and remember the message of hope and joy this little baby boy lying in a manger has brought to us.

Some helpful verses to consider are:

Emmanuel means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Jesus is called a “Man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3).

Hebrews 4:12-16 says: “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We learn in Hebrews that Jesus “passed through the heavens.” He is described as our “Great High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses.”

As we read over these verses we can rest assured that the word of God is The Great Physician’s prescription for our broken, frail, and needy hearts. Hebrews tells us that the “word divides and is able to judge our thoughts and intentions of our hearts and that there is no creature hidden from God’s sight but all things are laid open and laid bare to the eyes of Him…”

If then, He already knows the thoughts that pass through our minds and what is in the depths of our hearts what would keep us from coming to Him? Bearing our hearts to Him who knows and see’s all things and loves us despite our pain, disappointments, and failure can help restore unto us the joy of thy salvation (Psalm 51:12).

Hope and joy are not thoughts and feelings to be conjured up at Christmas time. As we grow in the knowledge of Christ, ask to be filled with and walk in The Spirit, we will have joy because joy is a fruit of The Holy Spirit.

It is not a futile human effort to be more joyful, but to be filled with The Spirit and as we are filled, we will have joy.

Joy is not tethered to a season, our circumstances, or any effort on our part other than asking to be filled with The Spirit. Let us allow that to relieve some of the personal pressure we can sometimes put on ourselves to be neat and tidy before we come to The Lord.

It can be helpful to note not all pain and suffering is a result of our personal sin, however, death, pain, and suffering are all things we experience as a result of sin entering the world (Romans 5:12).

As we bring our thoughts and hearts to The Lord, let us remember that our shepherd and high priest never gets tired of hearing the bleating of his sheep. Even if our bleating is the same thing, over and over, we will not wear out our Savior’s listening ear.

We may get tired of ourselves and others may get tired of us, but our Savior and Shepherd never tires of our prayers.

Take a look at what Psalm 73:23-28 says:

“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”

Going back to where we left off in Hebrews: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness” additionally it says, “let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need.”

We see here where to find hope and joy, not only at Christmas time, but at all times.

When we are weak, sorrowful, hurting, feeling misunderstood and or overlooked, experiencing feelings of lonliness, we can take all those thoughts and feelings to Him.

Even if the pain is too unbearable to verbalize out loud or when we can’t articulate a verbal prayer, when we position our hearts to God through prayer or simply by being still for a moment and being authentic about our thoughts and feelings while asking Him to help, we can rest assured that He hears, sees, and He will help us!

When we draw near with confidence to the throne of grace we will receive mercy and find grace in time of need.

Do you find yourself in time of need this holiday season?

Is your heart broken? Draw near.

Do you feel hopeless? Draw near.

Is someone you love sick? Draw near.

Is your marriage falling apart? Draw near.

Have you hit rock bottom? Draw near.

God knows what you need before you even ask (Mathew 6:8), therefore allow your heartache to increase your prayer life. When you feel the sting of pain and suffering, let it be a nudging reminder to “draw near." Even if you can’t muster up saying anything out loud, or you feel ashamed and guilty because of what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling, talk to Him anyway. It’s okay because He already see’s what’s in your heart.

Go ahead and talk to Him about it, all of it.

Let His truth, grace, and light shine into the darkest, most private and personal parts of your heart, agree with Him about the sin that is brought to your mind, and ask Him to forgive you and to change you.

He will honor your request. His glory is our good. His nearness is our good.

Let’s go back to the birth of Jesus that we celebrate during the Christmas season and refresh our minds as we read together the most incredible birth announcement ever written!

Isaiah 9:2-7 says:

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. For every boot of the booted warrior in the battletumult, and cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.”

Christian counseling can help!

Speaking with a counselor who shares your Christian faith can create a more personalized, private space for you to dive deeper into the things that may be weighing heavily on your heart. Reach out today and let’s explore together how Christian therapy can help.

Thanks and take care!

Hope