It’s
almost Christmas. Children are getting excited, hoping they will receive the
gift they have been wanting all year long year long. Families are hoping they will
reunite with one another after a long year apart. Dinner has already been planned, the Christmas tree is up, the Christmas
lights are all over the house, and the holiday season is finally here. But what
happens when, in the midst of all of the excitement and joy, something is just...different?
This season can be very difficult for some. It might be a time of
pain and loneliness instead of a time full of laughter and fun. It may be a
reminder that someone who was deeply loved is no longer here. It could be that this Christmas marks the memories of when a loved one was diagnosed with cancer.
Whatever the circumstance may be, Christmas just may not feel the
same as it used to.
I
remember the first Christmas I experienced without my Grandma, the anchor of our family. While that particular
Christmas still contained joy, there was sadness deep down that
was difficult to explain. Someone from my life was missing—someone very
important—and even though I was happy that Christmas had arrived, I was experiencing deep grief in the midst of it. It was difficult for me to
celebrate and enjoy it when all I truly wanted was to see
my Grandma again.
As I look back at that time and think about others experiencing similar pain
during this holiday season, I am reminded of the scripture Romans 15:13:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
This
scripture reminds us to trust in God. When we do, we will be filled with
hope, joy, and peace. No matter what we may be facing today, we serve a reliable God who we can trust.
He will never let us down, and
will comfort us in our time of need.
Throughout
this Christmas season, I pray that we can all place our trust in the Lord, even
when circumstances may be extremely painful and difficult to bear. The Bible
says that “Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar
high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and
not grow faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
One of my favorite worship songs is "Hope's Anthem" by Bethel Music and I pray that as you listen, you are reminded of the hope that the Christmas season can bring. May we all place our trust and hope in God today and always.
Have a very hope-filled Christmas,
Israel
italamantes@b4church.org
No comments:
Post a Comment