It has now officially begun!  Riding on the tail end of Thanksgiving, we have now legitimately entered the Christmas season.  Isn’t it delightful to start ringing in everything the season holds: setting up the tree, hanging ornaments and decorations, going gift shopping on Black Friday? Mmmmhmmm.  Maybe not the craziness of store and cyber shopping, but there certainly is a charming nostalgia that comes with twinkle lights, evergreen garlands, and the all familiar carols.

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But for some of us, the Christmas season may not feel so enchanting.   Instead, it may feel downright painful and filled with heartache. I’m not saying this lightly. I’ve been there. I remember the Christmas early in our marriage when we’d suffered so much loss and raw heartache that we just couldn’t bring ourselves around to even putting up a Christmas tree.  Other Christmas seasons have also been overshadowed with struggle and loss. At times like these, the words, “It’s the hap, happiest season of all” and “May your days be merry and bright,” simply ring trite and shallow.

You may relate, and wonder how you will find the strength to pull off Christmas this year due to your own personal painful circumstance.  You may be facing the absence of a loved one, or not knowing how to deal with strained or broken relationships, or be unsure how to afford Christmas with job loss or financial strain, or how to find joy in the discouragements & disappointments of life.

Christmas after Christmas, we delight to celebrate the birth of Jesus, for He is the promised Messiah come to save us from our brokenness and sin.  Two thousand years ago, the world was in desperate need of a Savior; it still is today.  We, too, desperately need Him as our only Hope, regardless of our circumstances.

But here is a tender truth I have learned over the years.  The most powerful way to grasp the beauty of Christmas, especially for those who are facing difficult or painful circumstances, is to firmly fix our eyes upon who Jesus is. (Hebrews 12: 2)

Yes, we look adoringly on the infant in the manger, thankful for God’s fulfilled promise of sending His Son to live and die for us.  We recognize Him as our promise Messiah. Yet, I encourage you this Christmas season, to stop and deeply ponder who this infant King truly is.  He isn’t confined to a tranquil manger scene!

He is the Son of Almighty God, the promised Messiah come to earth.   He came to display the Father’s heart of love for us, to draw us into His love, to hold us close, and to offer healing for our wounds.  Psalm 147: 3 & 11 assures, “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.  He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

In this Christmas season, may we find the courage to look intently for Jesus in the present – in the here and now moments of every day. 

Be assured that He is very close to you and looks upon you with tender love, acceptance, and understanding. He desires to reveal His saving love to you through His presence, through His Word, through His Spirit, through nativity scenes and Christmas celebrations, …… even through the empty hurting places.

For this is the truth of who Scripture says Jesus is:

He is our promised Savior (Matthew 16:16)

He is the Good Shepherd who searches for and cares for His sheep (John 10:11, Psalm 23, Matthew 18:12-14)

He is the light of the world (John 8:12)

He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)

He is our Helper (Hebrews 13:6), our Keeper (John 17:12)

He is our Restorer (Psalm 23:3), and our Peace (Ephesians 2:14)

He is the closest of friends (John 15:15), sticking closer than a brother to us through His unfailing love (Proverbs 18:24).

Jesus is very present for you and for me – in the here and now, in this Christmas season, and in every day.  For He truly is Immanuel, God with us.

May we all deeply know and rely on Him and His love for us (I John 4:16) this Christmas season.