Thursday, December 25, 2014

Disappointed with Your Christmas?

 

There are so many ways that Christmas can be a disappointing holiday.  I have friends who had a horrible stomach bug one year on Christmas Day.  They tried to celebrate anyway, but it was pretty pathetic. 

Then there are the annoyances of family contention that sometimes mar the day.  Let’s face it, not everyone always gets along and “plays well together” at family gatherings.  If someone who has a strong personality happens to be in a bad mood they can ruin the day for everyone else.

There are also the disappointments when plans go awry for one reason or another.  Maybe someone can’t make it.  Maybe the weather was too bad for travel.  Maybe you ruined the dinner.  Maybe the family you were counting on to come be with you decided to go somewhere else or are sick.

Then, if we’re going to be honest, some years your gifts just stink.  You don’t get a thing you wanted or the budget is so tight that you have to forego your own wishes in sacrifice for others.  Sacrificing for others is a good thing to do, but there was quite likely a small part of your own heart that was just a little disappointed.

Of course, a lot of people are disappointed in the holiday because they don’t have other people to be with who really care about them.  Maybe you are alone.  Maybe no one invited you to join them because you don’t have any family near by or just because they were thoughtless and selfish.  Maybe you are depressed or suffering from SAD and can’t enjoy the day.

Whatever the case may be, if you are child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I’d just like to encourage you to remember that the Lord loves and cares for you and that He is touched by your feelings in this disappointment.  Hebrews 4:15-16  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

If you are not a child of God yet, you can start having a better day now by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and putting your faith in Him for the eternal salvation of your soulRomans 10:9-13  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The scripture says this of Jesus Christ:

Isaiah 53:3-6  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Here are more words of comfort:

No Greater Love

Our Sanctuary

Jesus Knows Thy Sorrow

3 comments:

  1. We need to look out for those who struggle. This year went very well with the children (adult!!) very happy with everything which was excellent news.

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  2. Thank you for the wonderful Christian message. May God bless you and your blog. Bev

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    1. Bev, thank you for leaving a comment and word of encouragement.
      Mary

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