For a lot of people this time of year is an exciting time. It’s a season of laughter, parties, happiness, and good memories. For some it’s about presents, toys, new gadgets, or just enjoying the family and celebrating.
But for many people all around us, the holidays, specifically Christmas, is a time they dread. There’s this thing called seasonal sadness and it is a very real thing that affects many people everywhere and for a lot of different reasons.
A recent study shows that sadness and depression are at an alltime high during the holiday season. With people experiencing feelings of sadness or dissatisfaction, stress, loneliness, unrealistic expectations, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicidal thoughts.
Many of the reasons for feeling this way are caused because of the loss of a loved one, high expectations, financial difficulties and so on. For many of us it’s a wonderful time of the year, but for others, it’s the complete opposite.
But I’m here to tell you that the devil is a liar! My brothers and sisters, the devil knows that if he can get our focus on the wrong thing, then our focus won’t be on the right thing. I truly believe with all my heart that much of the holiday sadness & depression comes from having our focus on the wrong thing.
This morning, I pray God helps us to refocus on the true hope for the holidays and Christmas season. That despite what circumstances you have faced or are facing today, despite who is void in your life today and who you miss dearly, despite what trials you have faced or you will face during the season, that you come away with a heart bent and focused on the right thing. Focused on the right Gift!
This Gift will satisfy the hunger and hope in every human heart!
This Gift is from God. Maybe you know and have this Gift already, but all of us I believe need to refocus and to be reminded to keep our eyes on this true Gift more often. God’s Gift to us is His one and only Son, Jesus Christ.
Here is the whole hope of Christmas-
(John 3:16-18) 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The Christmas season isn’t about empty promises or material gifts. Christmas is about a fulfilled promise of restored relationship between a Holy God and a broken Sinful world. He didn’t HAVE to, but He did because He wanted to.
(John 10:17-18) “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Dear friends, I challenge you this morning to keep your focus on the gift that alone can satisfy you through the holidays and through any season that life has to offer.
I truly believe that it is only by keeping our eyes focused on the right thing that we will be able to walk in the fullness of the joy that was purchased for us on that cross and that was freely given to us.
May you walk in peace, in Joy, and in the Love of having your eyes focused on the right thing. Amen and Amen.
With Love, Your brother in Christ, Billy Montes
(Editor’s Note: This column is written by a different Littlefield pastor for the Leader-News each week. The columns are published on this page on Wednesdays.)