Embrace Difficulty in the Promise of Christmas

 

 

Christmas may be a little different this year. The Christmas season may always be hard for some of us, but this year that may be true for many more because 2020 was a difficult year, and Christmas may not seem so merry. Can we still “gather around” in joyful celebration, or will peace on earth fall short this year?

This will be the first time in about 12 years my family will not enjoy a white Christmas…

  

Spending Christmastime in the snow, at a place fondly named God’s playground, has become a family tradition with us. Whatever we could do in the snow, we’ve done it over the years. We’ve also spent Christmas Sundays in our home church away from home, and Christmas Eves singing carols by candlelight in another favorite church. We’ve grown used to recalling the Christmas story while overlooking snow-capped trees and snow-covered mountains.

This year COVID infections and the lack of available hospital beds forced us to shelter in place. We can’t leave the house except for short trips while distanced from others. We can’t enjoy Christmas as tradition had formerly welcomed.

 ☃

Mary, the mother of Jesus, looked forward to the world's very first Christmas, but it was a difficult 9 months.

When she became pregnant, she was struck with:

·       How to face her fiancé and loved ones with the news that she was pregnant
·       How to face a society that stones women for infidelity
·       Becoming pregnant in a way she’d never imagined

Then she later endured things like:

·       A long, cold journey to Bethlehem (70-90 miles)…probably in her 3^rd trimester

·       Sleeping in a stable
·       Giving birth without proper provisions

But her own words to God’s messenger seemed to sustain her:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:38).

Mary embraced God’s gift of Jesus in her womb despite the difficulty it brought. She pledged, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” She didn’t complain. She didn’t dread her future. She didn’t turn back. How could she? She would give birth to the Savior, God’s very Son.

How did Mary do it? How did she have a blessed first Christmas in the midst of difficulty? She imagined her first pregnancy very differently.

Mary could have easily lost herself in pity and sorrow. She could have feared and dreaded her socially-unsanctioned pregnancy and journey to Bethlehem. She could have complained about not having a proper bed or place to give birth. She could have turned away from God because His blessed promise to her was met with difficulty after difficulty after difficulty. God’s path for her was just too hard.

But she didn’t.

Early in her pregnancy, these words danced from her lips. I believe they continued to leap in her heart of rhythmic joy in anticipation of the day she would look into the eyes of her Savior:

 

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.

 

His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful to Abraham
and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

 Luke 1:46-55

 

Mary didn’t focus on herself and her own issues. She looked on God’s favor with humility. Then she marveled at god’s mercy toward His people. She praised Him for His promise of deliverance. She knew her difficulties would last only a season. She saw past the struggle and recounted the promises of God and the blessings that were sure to come.

She lived out her promise — “May your word to me be fulfilled” — and she stepped into her future with hope, joy, and peace.

Her baby boy was born. And she called His name Emmanuel, which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). We know Him as Jesus. And Jesus sacrificed Himself so we can enjoy the same hope, joy, and peace.

Mary did it. She embraced difficulty in her journey to the first Christmas.

 ☃

 

How can we do it? How can we enjoy Christmas in this difficult year? How can we celebrate this year with renewed hope?

 

For my family, our experience is nothing like it was for Mary. In all honesty, our Christmas is not difficult. It’s just different. Things aren’t as we planned, but we enjoy meals together. Presents fill every space beneath a beautifully decorated tree. We enjoy family togetherness with Christmas music ringing in the background along with the fragrance of hot cocoa. We play games and enjoy each other’s cooking. We open a gift here and there.

But the most important element: We remember Jesus, His gift of life, and the way He knit us together even deeper than the bonds of family.

Jesus created us to live, but sin brought death. Then Jesus came to earth to die so that we might live with Him (Galatians 4:4-5).

This is our hope! This is why we can celebrate at Christmastime, no matter the difficulty or no matter how different Christmas looks this year.

 

What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us all
how will he not also, along with him,
graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:31-32

 

Enjoy this song written by Joan Baez and sung by Lauren Daigle. Perhaps it expresses the hearts of Mary and ancient Israel who longed for deliverance.

O Come, O Come,Emmanuel

Find all of my Christmas posts here.

 

If you want to know more about Jesus, the Christmas story, and how to have hope, joy, and peace, please email me at authordlv@att.net. We can have peace, hope, and joy, even in the most difficult of times, when God is our God.

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