“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”-John 1:10-14
This time of year is a struggle for so many that are walking through grief, depression, anxiety, and overwhelming loss. As they navigate their own personal time of darkness they find it hard to balance the joy of Christmas with the reality of their pain. To make matters worse, the holidays seem to magnify that loss.
Perhaps what you are walking through isn’t even a recent occurrence in your life and you feel as though the world has already forgotten the pain you experienced, but it is just as real to you today as it was then. However, God has not forgotten you:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”-Psalm 46:1
He is a very present God in the midst of our suffering. In fact Psalm 34:18 tells us:
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
God has not forgotten you, especially this time of year. It is precisely why He sent Jesus. Christmas, actually, is an important reminder to the grieving, not of who is missing; but who is with us. Emmanuel-God with us!
In fact, Jesus didn’t come to magnify our pain, but He came in response to it. In response to our pain and hurt, Christ came and walked through pain and hurt with us; all the way to the cross. He experienced what we are experiencing so that He could comfort us in our times of tragedy. He came to bring balance to our sense of loss by sharing with us His very real and comforting presence.
The book of Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time for everything: a time to mourn and a time to dance. You have permission to do both. It is acceptable to grieve. However, is also acceptable to rejoice in the midst of your grieving. You are not taking anything away from the memory of your loved one, nor should you feel guilty because you are choosing to receive the hope, joy, and comfort that He came to give us.
Yes, Christmas is about peace, comfort, joy and hope. Those are the things that He brought with Him into the weary and broken world into which He was born. When Jesus left heaven, He didn’t bring with Him what He needed; instead He brought what He knew we would need to comfort us in the midst of our hurt and pain.
They are the same things that He is looking to bring into your life today. Not joy in the place of suffering, but joy in the face of it. Not the absence of adversity, but the comfort of His presence in the midst our situations. When faced with our deepest hurt, He sent Jesus to comfort us. The grief that you are feeling is very real, that is why Jesus came; He came to comfort you in your time of loss.
Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church
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