A Joy-Filled Season

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas! In the midst of time with family and friends, sharing meals together, and exchanging gifts, we recognize that the real gift we receive is that of our Savior, the Word made flesh who now dwells among us.  We rejoice in the fact that our God did not simply remain separated from us, locked up in heaven, but broke into our reality and took on our human nature so that He could be united with us in all things but sin.  Even in circles that aren’t particularly religious, the spirit of rejoicing and gratitude at the many gifts we have received in our life fills the hearts of many.

As I reflect on this joy-filled season, what comes to my heart is also the reality that this time is also a time of great struggle for many people.  I think of those who still grieve the loss of a loved one, or those going through a difficult medical situation that can make a joyful spirit hard to maintain, or those whose family struggles cause this season to be marked by tension rather than peace.  While we rejoice at the birth of our Savior, the reality is that we still live in a broken world marked by many hardships, and sometimes those hardships can make it very difficult to live in the Christmas spirit.

If you find yourself defeated by the many trials of life and robbed of the joy that you may feel like you are “supposed to” experience in this season, take courage in the fact that it is precisely for you that the Savior was born this day.  Jesus came into this world not because it was a perfect utopia without any problems, but precisely because this world and those who live in it were deeply broken, standing desperately in need of redemption and salvation.  Jesus took on our human nature not because it was perfect but because it was fallen, and no matter how hard man tried to save and redeem himself, he failed every time.   He needed someone to save him from his sin, his struggles, and his sufferings.  And that is precisely what the Lord Jesus Christ wants to do for you and for me.

If we approach and welcome Jesus into our lives with courage and with honesty, the “struggles of the season” can become great opportunities of encounter with the one who came to be with us in those struggles.  We can know that He sees the difficulties we often face and desires for us to know of his presence with us.  Even in times of darkness, we have a reason to rejoice, because God has entered into the darkness to bring his light of peace.

Wherever you find yourself this Christmas season, I invite you to see the birth of Christ as his coming to be with you.  Because of what He has done for us, there is always a reason for great joy and great hope.   To use the words from perhaps the best-known Advent songs: “Rejoice! Rejoice, O Israel!  To you has come Emmanuel!”  May that joy fill each of our hearts this Christmas.