As I’m writing this post, we are 20 days away from Christmas. Chances are you already have ideas in mind for what you are going to buy the people in your life (if you haven’t bought them already), what Christmas parties you will be attending, and how you will spend the holiday with your family. Planning and purchasing are common activities associated with Christmas, and while they aren’t bad things at all, they can become the primary things which can lead to stress and exhaustion. With that being said, we know what our Christmas season tends to be like, but if we could ask God what He wants for Christmas, what do you think He’d say?
Singer/Songwriter Darius Rucker has already beat me to this question, and he offers up some great suggestions in his song “What Does God Want For Christmas?” I won’t disagree with anything he says in the song, but I want to focus in on something that I think is true of what God desires in any season, not just Christmas. However, perhaps this is most applicable for right now because it tends to be such a busy time of the year.
Consider what Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30… Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I really don’t need to say much in reflection to these words of Jesus because they are pretty easy to understand, but I’ll put them in context to this holiday season…
You are going to be busy and probably already are. You may feel some pressure to ensure something is bought or done a certain way. There may even be people who have certain expectations of you during this season which will only put more stress and pressure on you. Regardless of what you feel, think, or believe others are feeling or thinking, you cannot forget what God is thinking this time of year. Honestly, He’s not thinking anything different than He is at any other point in the year. Maybe we can think of these verses like this during the Christmas season…
Jesus has already come to us, so now, our main focus should be to simply come to Him. We need to let our identity and self-worth be rooted in Him. In the midst of the busyness and pressures of this season, we must take time to breathe and REST. We will miss the whole point of Jesus coming if we run around and wear ourselves out trying to make perfect what never will be. Jesus is the One who gives us our identity, so don’t be overly wrapped up in the gifts you’ve prepared for someone else or the pressure you may feel to meet anyone’s expectations. Jesus has already given you His love, and He wants you to enjoy all that life brings including this Christmas season!
I don’t know if God would say it exactly like that, but when I read Matthew 11:28-30 and consider this season, I think His words to us may be something similar…
So BREATHE. Don’t try to save Christmas or make this the best Christmas ever by your gifts. It will be the best Christmas ever if you will just focus on Jesus! He has already done all the work. RELAX. Enjoy Jesus. Enjoy Family. Avoid getting sucked into the Christmas madness that was never supposed to be anyway! Act as if you believe this is what God wants for you this Christmas!
