Christmas: Getting Through Your Darkness
Finding the pin holes of light that you need in this dark period of Christmas.
I wish to be very careful here. Because even though the songs say it’s the most wonderful time of the year and that we are encouraged to have a holly jolly Christmas, and we tell each other to have a merry Christmas the truth is the heartache of the season is very real. For many the Christmas season is a painful season.
If we are not careful, we can embrace the heartache of the season. To the harm to our souls.
It can be season of fighting off depression and loneliness when we sit around people who love us, yet we don’t feel it. Sometime Christmas season can stir unresolved issues and disappointing relationships and expectations.
This will be another Christmas without my mom. Growing up, I learned over the years how tough Christmas was for my mom. It was the season she lost one of her children from her first marriage. Painful memories can sometime overwhelm our souls. High celebratory season can sometimes make things worse. That can be the case for you this year when its fresh or if it been 20 years.
I’m not here to tell you to get over it and move on. But I will say the message of Christmas reminds us that:
Psalm 34:18 - The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
Jesus has been, sent as it says in Isaiah 61:1,
“ to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound”
Whether you are down, numb, pressed or crushed in spirit, God says, he is near and he saves. He has proved it in his coming. And will prove it again in his return.
Christmas heart ache can feel very dark. But we all know it’s easier to walk through a dark hall or a dark tunnel, if you can see a little bit of light from somewhere. Jesus is that light.
There is a story that comes out of the Lewis and Clark Caverns. I’m not sure how true it is. But supposedly when you go on the tour and climb down the stairs, they shut the lights off. And they say its pitch black. The tour guide tells the story of the original explorer who walked along the top of that mountain and fell through a hole deep down several hundred feet into the cavern and was stuck in total darkness for over a week. He cried out everyday “Help me” Hoping someone would hear his voice and figure it out.
Finally someone did hear him and found the hole and dug him out. That is how they found the giant cavern.
They asked the guy “How did you hold out hope day after day in the total dark?” He said “There was one little pinhole ray of light that was coming through and I just kept my focus on that ray of light.”
There is a lesson to be embraced here.
Don’t waste this Christmas by embracing the heartache and darkness of the season, embrace the Light and Hope it offers.
Jesus is that light, Jesus is your hope.
He loves you and wants to comfort you.
He’s not done with you yet.
He believes in you.
He know what you are going through and his love is so deep for you that:
He sits in the dark cavern with you and says, “Trust me, look to me, I’ll save you from this.”
He walks in the dark tunnel with you saying “ Follow me and I’ll bind up these hurts and heal you.”
Christmas reminds us: Jesus is the Light of the World.
And we can waste our Christmas embracing the darkness of our souls and allow our hearts to sink into the quick sand of despair. We are ok to not be ok and cry. But don’t allow your heart to cry without hope.
Go ahead and cry -but don’t despair. Go ahead and feel the hurt but don’t let your heart sink. Cast the stress and find Jesus’ rest.
God’s word says:
Matthew 11:28 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 6:37 - All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 7:37 – “…Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
These are not platitudes, these are pin holes of light that you may need in this dark period of Christmas.
Just one verse or maybe all of them. You may be too tired and groaning in your spirit. Yet God hears you and does love you.
Embrace the hope of Christmas season by singing
Lord the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth You now bring us
Shine on me
Shine Jesus Shine-
“Shine Jesus Shine” By Graham Kendrick
Brothers and sisters, don’t waste this Christmas week by embracing the heartache of the season. Turn it around to find the hope of this season offers and brings healing.
That hope is Jesus! Who IS your comfort and savior in your darkness!