BETHANY BELUE | CONTRIBUTOR

Christmas is my favorite season with children, with all the lights, decorated yards, Christmas festivities, and the awe they experience as they soak in each fun holiday activity.  It’s a sweet time of joy and celebration and I make every effort to enjoy each moment with them and let go of my stress and anxiety that sits just below the surface. That’s because, in the midst of all the celebrations and joy, the hard parts of this life still exist. In my community, there are broken relationships, marriage hardships, the first Christmas without a parent, another Christmas with empty arms, and the longing to celebrate this holiday with a spouse. The pain I see all around me is real and deep, and yet Christmas is coming. All those sorrows will not disappear in the middle of feasts and festivities. I often wonder what it looks like to hold both joy and sorrow as we approach this special holiday.

During a recent conversation with a friend, I was reminded of something Tim Keller said while I sat under his teaching, “Christmas means that you will never be alone.” I remember that season of life when I heard those words and how they filled my heart with peace. No matter what my life may look like, no matter what sorrows I’m sitting in, or unmet desires I’m waiting for, I am not alone. Jesus was born so that I may never be alone.

Never Alone

Isaiah is a book of prophecy, a book telling of the hope that is to come. Isaiah was written during a time when the kingdoms of God were struggling. The Northern Kingdom was in captivity, and the Southern Kingdom was in the grasp of idolatry. It was a time of utter dysfunction and disruption. Yet, in the sin, brokenness, and uncertainty, a Savior was promised:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).

A Savior was promised to bring peace. He would be stricken for the sin of mankind, and He would bear it all for us. Jesus came not just for those we read about in the Bible, but also for you and for me. He came so that in this world we would know that we are not alone. No matter how deep our sin is or how broken our life may feel, there is a Savior who entered this world just as He promised. He came in humility and strength.  He lived thirty-three years on this earth and was crucified on the cross so that we would have real and forever hope (Phil. 2:5-11). Although the festivities, lights, and gifts of Christmas are fun, the reason we celebrate is because we have the hope of eternal life with Jesus. Christmas points us to that hope and reminds us that we can wait with expectancy and peace.

A Certain Hope

That truth may not change our circumstances this Advent season. It may not change the broken relationship, the pain of celebrating without a loved one, or the disappointment that life looks a little different than we imagined. It does remind us, though, that one day all the afflictions of this world will end, and we will celebrate without end when we are united with our Savior in heaven.

So, hold on, friend. As you see the lights, manage the busy schedule, and enjoy all the festivities with family and friends; know that this isn’t the end. Know that you are not alone. If you know Jesus as your Savior, this season is only meant to remind you that we are waiting for so much more. We can hold the joy of this holiday season and the sorrow that may be present hand in hand. We can open both of those hands to Jesus, waiting for Him with expectancy and setting our hope on Him. He is near. He is faithful. And He who has fulfilled His promise from the Old Testament to send a Savior will one day fulfill His promise again when that Savior returns.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,  and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new (Rev. 21:1-5).

May we celebrate now with expectancy the eternal celebration to come when we will be with our Savior in heaven.

Photo by Jared Lind on Unsplash

Bethany Belue

Bethany Belue is on staff with CDM serving in various roles within Children’s Ministry. Before coming on staff at CDM, she served as the Children’s Director at Redeemer PCA in New York City and Oak Mountain PCA in Birmingham, AL. She currently lives in Mobile, AL with her husband, Dustin, who is the assistant pastor at Grace Community Church PCA.  In addition to  discipling her own children, Patterson and Neely, she enjoys serving on the women’s ministry team at church and discipling younger women and children.  Her passion is to help others walk with Jesus all of their days and prayerfully be used to grow and deepen the kingdom the God.