The end of the year is always a reflective time for me.
The seasons change, people get ready to celebrate, and the landscape in the Western hemisphere looks a little bleaker than usual.
Have you ever felt like your heart is just as bleak as the landscape?
I have, and I think it’s important to talk about it. Not because I want to wallow, but because I want to process those feelings and rise above them.
The holidays are difficult for any number of reasons. Maybe you’re dealing with physical or emotional pain. Maybe someone you love is unwell. Or maybe there’s grief somewhere, be it over a person, dream, or closed season.
How do you respond when you’re “supposed” to be joyful, but you just don’t feel it?
Look beyond how you feel, and focus on who He is.
You see, Christmas is about so much more than gifts, cards, parties, and snow if you get it. It’s deeper than how things look, how life feels, and whether or not you got everything you wanted.
Christmas is about a Person, and His Name is Jesus.
If I focus on me and how I feel, I’ll be overwhelmed by my feelings. If I focus on Him and who He is, I’ll be healed from my feelings.
The same is true for you.
The Lord cares about how you feel, and He’s invested in your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
“He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3 NKJV)
That means He doesn’t want your broken heart to fester and get infected. That means He wants to heal your wounds, not watch you nurse them. And it means He wants you whole and thriving, not broken and withdrawn.
Because that’s what we do when we hurt, right? We withdraw from society, each other, and ourselves. When it’s really bad, we even withdraw from the Lord and stop fellowshipping with Him.
But there’s a better Way, and His Name is Jesus.
He came “to heal the brokenhearted . . . To comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV)
Jesus has beauty to give for your ashes, the oil of joy for your mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. That means that you don’t have to stay trapped in the pain and devastation of the past, because today is a new day, and there is grace for today.
You can be joyful today. You can flourish today. You can rise above the grief and endless questions today, because what’s ahead is so much greater than what’s behind.
How do you do that?
1. Tell the Lord how you feel.
Take the time to share your heart with Him. He already knows, yes, but you telling Him is trusting Him with your broken pieces and raw feelings. He sees you, He loves you, and He’s waiting to heal you.
Don’t shut Him out because you feel angry and bitter. Give Him all the gnarly feelings and receive His peace when you let go.
2. Talk to people.
Be social. Refuse to hide behind a wall of grief, silence, or sorrow. Allow the people around you to love you, listen to you, and support you.
Go to church. Take walks. Go on coffee dates. Don’t let how you feel or what you’re going through isolate you from your family, friends, and community.
You need them, and they need you.
3. Speak the Word over your heart.
Scriptures like Psalm 147:3 and Isaiah 61:1-3 are good reminders of the Lord’s heart for you. Reading them aloud often and meditating on them and similiar Scriptures teaches you a new way to think, which changes how you feel because it heals your heart. Marinating in the Word heals your heart, not marinating in your past.
Did you catch that?
Marinating in the Word heals your heart, not marinating in your past.
What’s on replay in your mind and heart, and is it helping or hurting you?
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.” (Philippinans 4:8 NKJV)
This verse is a snapshot of what your thoughts should look like as you focus on Jesus and not yourself. If your thoughts aren’t there yet, now is the perfect time to start learning a new way to think. And that comes with meditating on the Word, not your grief.
4. Rejoice in the Lord.
Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
The Bible didn’t say rejoice in your feelings, circumstances, or bank account. It didn’t say rejoice in your accolades, gifts, or output. It said rejoice in the Lord, which means celebrate who He is above what He does.
It’s easy to forget who the Lord is when the holidays are difficult and every day is a grind. It’s tempting to forget who He is when your heart and your body feel too broken to rejoice. And yet that’s when it matters most to remember and celebrate who He is beyond what He does.
So, who is the Lord really?
He’s the Good Shepherd who “gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NKJV)
He’s the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29 NKJV)
He is “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)
He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6 NKJV)
He is “JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 NKJV)
He is “Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1 NKJV)
And He is “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth . . . who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” (Revelation 1:5 NKJV)
Our problems and pain fade in His Presence because He’s greater than they are. He has the power to change them, but they don’t have the power to change Him.
So today, I want to encourage you to look to the Cross. If you find the holidays difficult, I pray that you’re comforted by who the Lord is and His great love for you. If they’re difficult for someone you know, I pray that you’re able to listen to them and encourage them.
And above all, I pray that your heart is soft enough to rejoice in the Lord always, rise above how you feel, and celebrate His Person even in the middle of the storm.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT)
May you be encouraged, strengthened, and joy-filled today.
Amen and Amen Otiti.
Thank you Otiti for this wonderful encouragement.
My take away?
‘Marinating in the Word heals your heart, not marinating in your past.’
I find that phrase can heal many hearts ❤️ 💙 💜