“When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child”—Luke 2:17
Many of us have experienced a Christmas when the holiday didn’t live up to our expectations. The Gifts we wanted didn’t appear. The Loved ones we hoped to see didn’t show up.
Especially as women, we can sometimes have certain ideas and expectations that may not be the most realistic when it comes to how the days will flow, and the way everyone will act throughout the holidays. Our high expectations are often even too high for us to live up to amid the stresses of the season.
The Ghosts of Christmas Pasts
My husband grew up in a family of seven children, so his parents had their hands full. Christmas gift buying can get overwhelming, confusing, and disorganized at times, in trying to keep track of which child wants which gift.
We don’t know what really happened behind the scenes, or, if and how things got a little jumbled and mixed up, or, if it was intentional on his mom’s part, but my hubby often didn’t receive the gifts on his Christmas list. Instead, he usually watched his two little brothers receive and open the prized items.
So what do we do when Christmas disappoints us? How do we respond? Where do we turn? Most importantly, how do we recover from past letdowns, so that they don’t influence and taint the rest of our lives in celebrating Christmas?
We don’t have to let past disappointments color our present and future Christmases. We can choose how we look back on them and how they affect us going forward.
In Philippians 3:13, the Apostle Paul describes how he deals with the past. “Brother and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”
Receiving the True Gift of Christmas
Looking at what we don’t have rather than all we do have, leads to disappointment. The enemy of our souls focuses on getting us to focus on what we didn’t get rather than all God has given us for Christmas.
John 8:44 explains to us how the devil has no truth in the words he speaks. Lies are the only thing that can come out of his mouth because he is a liar, and lies are this native language because he is the father of lies.
His distractions work to keep us fixated on what we didn’t get, knowing when we do, we’ll miss out on enjoying true Christmas joy and receiving the gift God gives, that doesn’t ever disappoint.
But the truth is he can’t take this away from us if we don’t let him. What God has given us for Christmas is everlasting. As Luke 2:10 proclaims, our joy comes from God. “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people.’”
Like the shepherds, once we see and take hold of the joy given to us in the gift of Jesus, we can’t help but spread this good news to those around us, laying aside and leaving behind past disappointments, to behold Him and tell others about Him.
Isaiah 9:6 assures us of the true magnificence of God’s gift to us. “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Thank You for Your gift of Jesus. We praise You, Lord, that all we need in life is found in You.
As Hebrew 12:2 encourages, help us to leave past disappointments behind and keep our hearts and minds set on Your perfect gift, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God.”
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/tommaso79
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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Originally published Wednesday, 20 December 2023.
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