The Christmas Gift
The weather is cooling, Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, and we’re hearing Christmas music wherever we go. The countdown to Christmas is here! There are parties to attend, lights to see, travel to arrange, and family gatherings to plan. Many of us find ourselves searching for just the right gift for a family member or friend. Others are looking for a way to escape ... maybe taking a trip would be a legitimate excuse to get away from all the holiday demands.
How about you?
How are you feeling as Christmas is approaching? Excited? Stressed? Joyful? Overwhelmed? Peaceful?
Most people do not describe themselves as peaceful when Christmas is around the corner. But the gift of peace is exactly what Jesus brought to the world on the first Christmas morning. When a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel speaking to the shepherds they proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” As difficult as it might sound, Jesus makes it possible for us to experience peace. He said, “peace I leave you, my peace I give to you” (John 14:27).
One of the many reasons we can have peace through Christ is because Christmas reminds us that God is ultimately in control. He planned it all. God planned that Jesus would be born into the world to create a way for us to be redeemed. He made a way for us to have peace with God, ourselves, and others. Incredibly, this was God’s plan for us before we were ever born and even before the world was created. 1 Peter 1:20 tells us, “[Jesus] was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” Christmas, and the birth of Jesus, was God’s plan all along.
Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and he will be called Emmanuel” (Is.7). Two chapters later Isaiah wrote, “For unto us a child is born, to us a child is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is 9).
This same prophet also wrote about how Jesus would bring redemption and peace with God. He wrote: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities and the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us have turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Is 53) Again, this was written more than seven hundred years before these events came to pass.
Jesus coming into our world on that Christmas morning makes it possible for us to have peace; not only with God, but also with ourselves, and others. In this season, be sure to take some quiet moments to remember:
· You are not alone. Jesus is Emmanuel which means “God with us.”
· You are deeply loved – God so loved you that he gave his son.
· You matter. God created you in his image, gifted you, and gives you purpose.
· God cares about the hurt in your life. Psalm 34:18 says, “God is close to those who are brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
While Christmas is a wonderful time to reflect on these great truths, it can also be a time of loneliness, grief, or depression. The caring counselors at Renewing Life Center are always here for you. Simply call our office at 702 434-7290 and our team will get you connected with a counselor right away. Merry Christmas and may this season be filled with peace!
Mark Whelchel, M.S., LMFT