When Christmas Doesn’t Feel Joyful
It’s that time of year again. The Christmas lights are all set out. The tree is decorated. Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is blaring on every station. Amazon workers are zipping all over town to deliver gifts in time for the big day.
The secular “holidays” and the Christian observance of Christmas may differ in a lot of ways, but they have one message in common: this is a time for joy and happiness. The birth of our Savior is a joyful event to celebrate! And God has truly blessed us all—there is much to be thankful for, especially the gift of His Son. But, sometimes amid all the tinsel and twinkling lights, you just don’t feel that joy.
Maybe you’ve lost a loved one (my wife and I have lost 3 of our parents in the last 4 months) and Christmas is a hard reminder of all the traditions they won’t be a part of. Maybe you’re facing tough circumstances like a health crisis or job loss. Or, maybe you’re just tired, and summoning the energy to put on a joyful face feels like too much.
It can be lonely to feel sad or just “blah” at Christmastime, but you are not alone. Many people are experiencing these same feelings. In fact, studies show that about 66% of Americans feel lonely during the holidays.
If you are one of those individuals struggling with joy this season, here are some comforting Scriptural truths for you.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” –
Psalm 34:18
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30:5
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” – Matthew 5:4
God isn’t afraid of sadness. In fact, Jesus is recorded to have cried multiple times in the Bible (John 11:35, Luke 19:41, and Hebrews 5:7-9). Being happy during the holidays is not a requirement of the Christian life, nor is it a reflection of your love for Him. Just take a gander at the book of Psalms. David, who is described as a man after God’s own heart, cries out to God in His distress over and over, yet always finds comfort in the arms of the Father.
We may feel like we have to “fake it” with the world, but we don’t have to fake it with God. We can be completely honest with Him about the pain we’re feeling. He longs for you to draw near to Him so He can tend to your broken heart in the way only He can. If you are feeling sad this time of year, or seem overwhelmed by grief, or loss of a loved one, or some other tragedy, just tell Him. Draw into the “shadow of His wings,” and experience supernatural peace and comfort. I think you’ll find that your intimacy with God will grow more in these tough times than when things are going great. God may actually want to use the difficulty you are going through as a way to draw you into a closer personal relationship with Him.
Some of us are actually bursting with Christmas joy right now and are truly delighting in this celebration of the birth of our Savior. Even though my wife’s beloved Dad passed away four months ago, and both my Mom and Dad who I loved dearly just passed away in the last two months, my heart is full of peace and joy because I know that they are in heaven with Jesus, and would not want to come back here!
If you are one of these individuals who finds themselves in a time of peace and joy, take some time to look around for those who may be struggling. It could even be someone in your own home or family! See if you can be an instrument of God’s love to the brokenhearted. Anything from a heartfelt note to home-baked Christmas cookies, there are lots of ways to bring just a little spark of joy into the lives of the downtrodden! Who can you help shine the light of Jesus Christ to during this Holiday Season? God wants to work in and through you to make a difference in the lives of others—all you have to do is just be available for Him to work through.