Don’t let worry tug the merry out of your Christmas.

The lyrics of Christmas songs leap from television and radio right into our hearts, inspiring us to sing along. Everywhere we go, “Merry Christmas” greetings bring a smile. Holiday wishes arrive daily in the mail.

Yes, indeed, we’ll have ourselves a merry Christmas! Won’t we? I do hope you will. But a good dose of reality informs me some of you are struggling during this wonderful season. Family worries. Financial worries. Health worries. Lots of worries.

Just thinking…what would it take to have a truly merry Christmas?

Please…I know the reason we’re celebrating. Our precious Lord Jesus was born in a rugged stable in Bethlehem. He came for one purpose—to save us from our sins! Receiving him, God’s unspeakable gift, is all we need to have a truly merry Christmas.

But there are unresolved issues in life that tug at our merry. If we let them, they will tug all the merry out of our Christmas.

Conflicts leave families divided. Job loss casts finances into uncertainty. Health issues drape an ominous cloud over the future. How in this world can we feel merry when everything seems to be falling apart? Just getting real here.

Daily stuff becomes focus. The young child diagnosed with an incurable illness. The precious mother stolen by dementia. The hard-working husband down-sized out of a paycheck. How can you think of anything else?

Real life isn’t fun and games. Real life is sometimes hard beyond words. Heartbreak. Loneliness. Hopelessness.

Real life isn’t all fun and games. Real life is sometimes hard beyond words. Heartbreak. Loneliness. Hopelessness. Click To Tweet

I apologize for pushing you into a sad mood. But some of you are already there. If you are not, then use these thoughts as a reminder to pray for those who are.

Do I have any encouragement to offer? Only what the Lord has given me when hard places sent me seeking him above all.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Psalm 42:5).

“Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy; yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God” (Psalm 43:4).

Peace. Rest. Strength. Hope. Joy. Just what we need for a merry Christmas.

How in this world can we feel merry when everything seems to be falling apart? Circumstances will not bring us to merry. These gifts—peace, rest, strength, hope, joy—are what Jesus brings to our circumstances.

Circumstances will not bring us to merry. These gifts—peace, rest, strength, hope, joy—are what Jesus brings to our circumstances. Click To Tweet

Don’t let worry tug the merry out of your Christmas.

I pray your Christmas is everything those wonderful songs of the season promise—because of the promises of Christ our Savior!

I’d love to know your thoughts. Please leave a comment. And share this with your friends!

© Dianne Barker 2019

(Scriptures from KJV)