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“The holidays can be so hard,” my friend said. A group of women were gathered for a time of fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. This got my attention as I noticed the comment resonated with others. Heads nodded in agreement; tears filled a few eyes. Another added, “I would be perfectly fine to skip over the holidays.”
This viewpoint is in sharp contrast to the cheerful claim that, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” isn’t it? What is it about Christmas and surrounding holidays that stirs up so many emotions? For some, Christmas fills the heart with joy, excitement, fond childhood memories, and deep familial love. For others, it magnifies grief and is a reminder of the loss of loved ones or broken relationships. Dread replaces anticipation and depression looms. And still there are those who carry both perspectives leaving their emotions mixed and clouded.
Our feelings are real and should not be discounted by anyone; however, there is a spiritual aspect for every child of God that should not be ignored. We don’t need to live in endless grief, depression, and defeat. Consider these truths from Scripture.
- The believer grieves with hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
- The believer walks in the spirit not the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
- The believer practices self-control over emotions. (2 Timothy 1:7)
- The believer takes every thought captive. (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Do we need to change our perspective? Fixing our eyes on God and what He did in sending Jesus should be the ultimate goal for Christians during the holidays. Shouldn’t we be the ones shining brightly and ringing out bells of truth for a world who doesn’t comprehend the significance of the season? Christmas is a celebration of God’s gift to an undeserving world. It is love to the unloving, hope to the hopeless, grace and mercy to the sinner, and eternal life to the lost. The heart of Christmas is God changing hearts through His beloved Son, Jesus!
When the angel foretold the birth of John to Zacharias, he said, “he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” Luke 1:17.
When John leaped in the womb of Elizabeth for joy at Mary’s visit, Mary gave a song of praise saying, “He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,” Luke 1:51.
At the birth of John news traveled across all the hill country that God was doing a work. “And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be!” Luke 1:66.
After the shepherds made haste to visit Mary, Joseph, and the babe in the manger they shared the good news with everyone around. “And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:18-19.
When Joseph and Mary presented baby Jesus at the temple there was a just and devout man named Simeon who saw Jesus, took Him in his arms, blessed God and said, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35.
We often romanticize that first Christmas with poetic images of the nativity scene. But in reality, it was a difficult time for Mary and Joseph. Their hearts were surely filled with fear, doubts, and a flood of emotions. In fact, this took place during a dark and silent period in history—one in which God had been quiet for 400 years. The world couldn’t fully grasp the depth of what God was accomplishing when He sent Jesus. He didn’t come as a mighty king, but as a helpless baby made lower than the angels. He lived a perfect, sinless life and willingly tasted death to redeem mankind. This is the heart of Christmas!
God sent Jesus to reach our hearts in a way that changes everything.
To heal broken hearts…
To comfort grieving hearts…
To ease anxious hearts…
To reveal sinful hearts…
And above all, to transform cold, unyielding, stony hearts into soft, responsive hearts of flesh that are filled with love, hope, and new life.
Copyright © 2025 by Kimberly Williams @ www.kimberlywilliams.org No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.