Whether you have too many Christmas celebrations to attend or you hate spending the day alone, anxiety is an equal opportunity offender during Christmas. Your health crisis or that of a loved one can add stress to the holidays. Some of us are too busy, while others have an empty chair at the table. Life’s pressures squeeze us tighter simply because the media promotes big family fun. Let’s face it. At one time or another, we will battle anything from the blues to a full-blown anxiety attack during the season of peace on earth.
I must admit, I’ve had many lonely Christmases in my life. So, I have compiled a list of biblical truths that will pull us out of discouragement and put our focus back on Christ and not the crisis.
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1. Jesus Never Abandons Us
“I may be lonely, but I’m never alone.” Those words astonished me coming from an elderly neighbor when I visited her on Christmas Day. Her family lived miles away, and at her age, getting out was difficult. How could she have this inner joy and peace?
Christmas is what we make it. My older friend chose to be content with her only companion that day, Jesus Christ. Many times, when circumstances seem less than perfect, we want to blame Jesus rather than find comfort in His presence.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)
We learn the virtue of contentment. How can we be discontent in the presence of our Savior, especially on the day we celebrate His birth?
2. Move Forward in Baby Steps
Sometimes, we put more stress on ourselves than anyone can handle. We think our joy should grow in leaps and bounds. We think we should have come farther than we have. We plan overly elaborate meals, and everything falls apart.
When Nehemiah and the exiled Jews returned to the ruins of Jerusalem, they grieved over their city. Grief immobilizes people. Nehemiah knew they had to move forward. As long as they made baby steps, they made progress.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV)
Don’t set goals you cannot achieve. Take things slow if you are coming out of a season of grief and discouragement.
3. Joy Is Still Present
That last verse takes us to our next truth. I wondered how Christmas would ever be joyous again when the chair my daughter used to occupy sat empty. I missed shopping for her, but I discovered I could shop for another child, someone who needed a few gifts. The first year I bought Christmas gifts for a friend’s grandchildren.
Nehemiah knew what I discovered. Giving infuses our joy. It felt normal to be in the store shopping for someone, even if it wasn’t my own flesh and blood.
4. God Heals and Comforts
After Nehemiah and the Jews rebuilt their beloved city, an unknown author penned these words of comfort and truth:
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3 NIV)
Both actions are continuous. God doesn’t heal for a precise amount of time, nor does the binding of our wounds cease. The author probably experienced the healing and binding firsthand. He wrote about what he knew.
Friend, don’t think God is finished with you. Don’t think the anxiety or depression has returned with no hope. God is a constant comfort for His people.
5. Praise God
I know what you’re going to say. You don’t feel like praising God. I get that, but I gave it a try. Friend, that is when we need to praise Him most. Perhaps you feel you don’t have the time with all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Make the time. You will discover comfort when you worship the Lord.
Praising God is healing to our souls. When my prodigal left home, it was late September. Those holidays that followed brought so much pain, but thankfully, I had learned what to do with my pain. Turn it into praise.
"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." (Psalm 42:5 NIV)
The Psalmist obviously suffered from depression. He asked the question, “why?” Have you been there? God, why haven’t You rescued me from this darkness? Why am I so sad? Why must I feel this pain? Why have You left me here?
The word "disturbed" means uneasy or lacking peace. Do you feel like peace evades you? Remind yourself of your hope, God.
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6. Stay Hopeful
As the writer reminds himself of his hope in God, Elohim, the Creator God is the name used here for God. Why does that matter?
God created something out of nothing when He created the universe and all living things on this earth. He spoke it into existence. Out of the ashes of our despair, we have hope that God the Creator can do something new in our lives.
7. Graze on the Word of God
"Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4 NIV)
If you are navigating a valley now, you’re not alone. I am making the journey, and it has lasted far too long. Why do we tend to shy away from the Word of God when life gets hard? Perhaps, we feel disappointed in God, even if we don’t want to admit that.
I’ve been using distractions during my highest pain levels. I choose from a Christmas movie on TV, reading a book, or the Word of God. I’ve already read through the Psalms and now I am going through the New Testament.
The Word of God is more than a distraction. I often find comfort as I read. I praise Him, and I pray according to what I am reading.
As sheep travel through the valley, they graze on luscious green grass. As we travel through dark valleys, let us be mindful to stop rushing through the trip and start grazing on the Word of God. He will nourish and sustain us with His Word.
9. Listen for the Still, Small Voice of God
When Elijah’s pity party had ended, God asked Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain. Elijah saw some spectacular sights—howling wind, a shattering earthquake, and a blazing fire. Yet, God wasn’t present in any of it.
Then God made His presence known in a still, small voice. We need to get rid of the clutter of distractions and despair and clear our minds. Sit down with a Bible and graze on the Word. After a few minutes, ask God to speak to you. Then listen in silence. Perhaps you hear nothing. Graze a bit more because many times, He speaks from His Word. Even if you come up with nothing, you have made yourself available to God and you are drawing near to Him, so don’t be disappointed.
When you finally say “Amen,” you will feel the peace of being in His presence.
10. Look for Someone to Bless
I’ve often noticed when I end up in these self-indulgent moods that I am reminded of someone in worse shape than me. Even now, while I suffer great physical pain and my normal life has completely changed, I will hear of someone with cancer. They have it worse than me. In my most excruciating nerve pain, I think of the thorns pushed down into our Savior’s head. I think of the spikes someone pounded into His hands and feet. My pain can’t compete with that.
Find that person who has it worse than you, and find a way to bless them. Perhaps a text message, a phone call, a meal, or a gift.
It is my prayer that as you implement these suggestions, you will find anxiety lifting from your heart, and the peace of God will replace it. Don’t just click to the next screen, jot down the plan and the work you have to do in order to conquer Christmas anxieties. Reading this article is not enough on its own. Do the work. I know. I have done it myself, and it works. I pray we will all have a peaceful Christmas.
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Originally published Thursday, 15 December 2022.
