Let’s rewind two thousand years. Imagine yourself growing up in a Jewish family and hearing of the promised Messiah year after year. The festivals come and go with growing anticipation that one day God will send a Savior to rescue you from the tyranny of Rome and the monotony of everyday life. Or perhaps you grow weary with each passing year. You begin to question whether the promise is literal.
Maybe the shepherds in Luke 2 felt something similar to one of the scenarios above. However, everything would change with a miraculous encounter. “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord’” (Luke 2:10-11, ESV).
Today, many people need this Good News. Children will face Christmas in a caseworker’s office. College students will have to return to abusive homes over the break. Parents will deal with the disappointments of not being able to provide gifts for their children. How can we have hope in these desperate times?
Take comfort in these Christmas truths.
- God is faithful. God kept his promise to send Jesus, and Jesus will keep his promise to return.
- Jesus proved His love for us. Jesus loved us enough to leave the comforts of heaven to put on flesh and suffer as a human in order that we could be saved.
- He still loves us. It can be difficult to wait on the promises that God will bring an end to pain and dwell with us forever. After all, from the human perspective, a moment of suffering can feel like an eternity. However, from God’s perspective, he is not being slow. Time has no effect on him. An illustration given by C.S. Lewis from a speech he gave on BBC Radio helps us understand this, “If a million people are praying to Him at ten-thirty tonight, He hasn’t got to listen to them all in that one little snippet which we call “ten-thirty.” Ten-thirty, and every other moment from the beginning to the end of the world, is always the Present for Him. If you like to put it that way, He has infinity in which to listen to the split second of prayer.”
With these truths in mind, here are some practical tips on how to minister to those who are suffering this Christmas.
- Give a heartfelt gift. God gave the best gift ever, His Son! Obviously, we cannot match that, but what gift would cheer someone up? Maybe something as simple as a handwritten note. Think about what the person truly needs or enjoys. If you know a parent who cannot afford to buy their kids’ gifts, help but let the parents take credit.
- Mourn with those who mourn. Let people know they are safe to mourn around you. Do not lecture them in their pain or guilt-trip them for feeling bad. Give them space or a hug, whatever they prefer.
- Open your home. Does someone need a place to stay or an invitation to a holiday party? Be hospitable.
- Tell people you love them. Do not take for granted that they already know or would not love to hear it.
- Invite them to church. Let them come hear the miraculous story of the birth of Jesus. Sometimes just being in the house of God can help.