While most of us look towards the Christmas season with excitement and anticipation, some experience an increased amount of stress, sadness and anxiousness. Families who don’t have the resources to buy Christmas presents can feel the pressure of seasonal expectations. Those who have lost loved ones may feel an overwhelming sense of loss and loneliness. In a season where most celebrate, many others feel more intensely the pain that life has brought them. I know this first hand, having grown up in a family where money was always an issue. Most of my adolescent years were spent being shuffled between a single mom and my grandparents. Often presents under the Christmas tree were scarce.
We all experience discouragement and loneliness at some point in our lives. Rather than dwelling on our circumstances, I encourage you to find things in your life to be thankful for this season. Even though you may be walking through a difficult time, God loves you and He is actively involved in your life.
If you’re feeling the holiday blues, give these feelings to Christ. If you’re feeling lonely, turn to Christ who came into this world in a manger, and died on a cross alone. If you’re feeling the pain of life’s unfairness, know that Christ was beaten and condemned for crimes He had not done. If you don’t have presents to give, find a way to give of yourself to others. While my mom and grandparents didn’t have much to give, the best memories I have was the time they spent with me.
Most importantly, if you have never received God’s greatest gift, His son Jesus Christ. I sincerely hope, you will seek His mercy and forgiveness this holiday season. He suffered and bled and died to save us all from our sins.
“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10
Seek Him as did the wise men. Come to Him as did the shepherds.
Troy Miller
President & CEO
