Christmas can be an amazing time of year, with carol services, parties, and family reunions. But this isn't the reality for everyone; some will be spending it alone. Perhaps because of work, or because family is too far away. If that's you and you're finding it hard to feel any Christmas cheer, here are some beautiful verses to buoy your spirits.
For this is what the high and exalted One says – he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15 (NIV)
If your heart is feeling sad or broken, don't worry, you have exactly the kind of heart that God is drawn to. The Oxford Dictionary describes lowly as "humble" or "low in status or importance", and contrite as "feeling or expressing remorse...affected by guilt". That doesn't sound like the kind of person we'd want to spend our Christmas with, but God is not like us. This is exactly the kind of person He goes to and not just so that He can enjoy Himself, but so that He can work on you. You are not too much for Him; He wants to be with you and revive you. So bare your soul, tell Him exactly how you are feeling, and let Him be your best companion this Christmas. He won't let you down.
You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. Psalm 18:28 (NIV)
What better verse to bring to mind when the days are short and the nights long. The wintry days can indeed heighten feelings of loneliness, but the Psalmist reminds us that no matter how dark it might get, there is always light. You might not have lots of parties lined up or family around you but you have the one thing you truly need: God. It sounds cliché but time spent alone is often a powerful reminder that it is God that keeps our lamp burning, not all the optional extras in our lives. Circumstances might not be exactly as you would wish them, but there is God's blessing for you where you are. For one thing, with no people to distract you, you have precious time to focus on your relationship with Him and your wellbeing – something we can easily neglect in the busyness of life. The more room you give God, the more His light can shine into your Christmas.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
These were God's words to the Jews when they were in exile in Babylon. It was a tough time for them and while God was promising He would help, that help was going to come seventy years later! It would be so nice if our times of difficulty just lasted a short while. Then hope would be easy! The truth is, we don't know when that good time is going to come or how long we may have to wait. But there's something we can learn here. God spoke words of hope and assurance to His people in a hopeless situation, and He is speaking to us in the same way today. The situation didn't change immediately for the Jews but He gave them words of love and comfort to endure the situation, words that had the power to lift their eyes up from their circumstances and look to Him. God hadn't forgotten about them or their plight, and He was going to do something about it when the time was right. So don't get stuck in a moment, stay in hope. God's plan for you is beautiful, even if it takes a while for it to work out. Don't spend your Christmas on "what ifs" or "I wish I had". Spend it dreaming, praying, planning, preparing for another year devoted 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
Paul reminds us of the power of the Holy Spirit to give us hope and not just enough hope to get by, but to fill us to the point of overflowing. So why not make some spiritual goals for the season and be intentional about asking God to fill you with his joy and peace. Perhaps you can revive a spiritual discipline that's fallen by the wayside over the course of the year, or pick up that book on Christian living that you put down and forgot about. Having lots of people to share our life with is a gift, but time is also a gift and depending on how we spend it, we can get more or less out of it. Make a promise to yourself not to drift or indulge in negative emotions, and instead get excited about the joy and peace God is going to put in your heart as you press into Him.
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests." Luke 2:14
Ultimately, Christmas is not about us or what we want but about God and what He did for us. He gave His Son Jesus to give peace to mankind. The beautiful truth we are reminded of this season is that if you have put your faith in Christ, His favour is upon you. The first people to hear this beautiful message were not the great religious leaders, but the shepherds tending their sheep in the fields around Bethlehem alone and in the dark of night. While we may have romantic views of shepherds today, at the time of Jesus's birth they had absolutely no social status. They were looked down upon and lived most of their lives outside of society. The Oxford English Dictionary defines favour as "an attitude of approval or liking" or "overgenerous preferential treatment". His favour fell on the ones society couldn't care less about. With God's favour comes peace and not a temporary peace that will disappear as soon as the Christmas trees and decorations are taken down. But a peace that will last because Christ's sacrifice was for all time. So whether we have a lot or a little this season, we can enjoy our Christmas knowing the glorious company we keep and giving thanks for what He has generously given us. Glory to God indeed!
