Forced to be Festive

 

For many, Christmas time is a joyously anticipated time. I know people that would probably put their Christmas tree up after Easter if they didn’t think they would receive some flack about it.

Maybe that’s exaggerating a bit. Well, actually, maybe not.

The thoughts that Christmas brings for many are times of happy gatherings and celebrations. A time for gift giving and receiving. A time for peace, hope, love and joy.

For others…not so much.

Christmas can evoke allot of different feelings for different people.

It can be a time that rekindles pain from the loss of a loved one. It can be a season that brings financial stress. It can be a holiday that exasperates a person’s loneliness, or shines light on some broken family relationships.

 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

-Matthew 5:4

Something so joyful to one person can be the antagonist of pain for another.

Each year there are many that move forward through this time, feeling forced to be festive. It’s expected. It’s assumed. It’s what people seem to want from them.

Yet behind many smiling faces this Christmas season will be broken hearts, stress filled minds and lonely feelings.

To those who share those behind-the-scenes feelings I say this…. You may want to run away and hide from the noisy busyness and the social obligations. You may want to lash out at the insensitive and uncaring people who tell you to just “Cheer up!”

Or maybe you just want to drown your sorrows with binge drinking, binge eating, or binge TV-watching.

None of these options—running out, lashing out, or pigging out—will improve your heavy heart. Indeed, they will only make it worse.

I know sometimes there are solutions that only seem too obvious. Praying is one of them. Perhaps that’s even something you’ve tried in the past, only to find yourself right back where you started each year.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:18

What you pray is an important factor in finding healing. Are you simply praying for joy and peace or are you laying it all out for the Lord. Do you even know what that might look like?

It looks like this… “Lord, I don’t want to give thanks, I don’t want to celebrate Christmas, and I don’t want to deal with these feelings AGAIN this year.”

It’s saying: “God, I can’t stand happiness right now and I can’t stand people.”

It’s Pleading: “Lord, I am weak, I need your power, I need your patience, I need your joy.”

It’s the Promise: “I will rely on you alone to carry me and to even use this time for my help and healing.”

Stop stuffing and shoving those feelings deep inside and playing a game of pretend all season. You can’t pretend to God.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13

Share your feelings with someone who will understand and be there for you. Remember that you don’t have to go to every holiday event, if you are not in the spirit, but be careful not to isolate yourself as well. Write down why you are sad this time of the year. It allows you to process your feelings on paper. Pray and share your sorrow with God. Praying does truly bring comfort and strength.

At Christmas, we are reminded that Jesus came to earth to be with us. He experienced loneliness, sadness, rejection, and other emotions that you may be feeling right now. Jesus understands.

What’s more, Jesus came to earth to rescue us. He came to take on our guilt and pain. On the cross, He delivered us from sin and death so we may enjoy the freedom that comes from life in Christ.

Jesus is our Immanuel, God With Us. In all our messiness, God came near. He came to be with us – not because things were going perfectly, but because we were in desperate need of Him.

If you feel alone this Christmas, remember that God is with you. He sees you and loves you. He cares about how you’re feeling and what you’re struggling with.

You are never alone.

For those who are overjoyed with the excitement of the season I say: Pay attentions. Be aware of your brothers and sisters in Christ that may not share the joy and lightness you have during this season. Don’t expect or demand that others meet you where you are, and certainly don’t dismiss or ignore those who don’t match your enthusiasm.

Jesus came as the light to the world. He passes that torch on to us through the power of the Holy Spirit, asking us to cast light into the dark places of the world for others to see.

Don’t become so transfixed on your light that you forget to shine it into the lives of others this season.

Let’s give the gift of presence this season over presents as we help this sometimes weary world rejoice.

-Pastor Patti