When it comes to Christmas celebrations, I tend to err on the side on the side of understated. My family and I like to keep things simple, at least to the degree that we can. We don’t have elaborate decorations on the exterior of our home. Our tree rarely stays up long enough for it to require dusting. We rarely travel.
For me and my family, simple is relaxing; it is comforting. After spending many years navigating complex travel routines and multiple celebrations, embracing understated—simple—has been a welcome respite.
The Rarely Simple World in Which We Live
Unfortunately, life is not simple. Complexity tends to make its presence known, and often it threatens to steal our joy in the process. While many of us may be looking forward to Christmas with joy in our hearts, others may feel the overwhelming weight of sorrow:
The diagnosis you prayed you would never receive comes. A marriage crumbles. A beloved family member dies.
The weight of any of these, and more besides, doesn’t just affect one Christmas. They travel with us every Christmas. They remind us that life in this world is a mix of joy and sorrow.
Christianity doesn’t shy away from this truth. After all, there’s a reason that Paul wrote that “whole creation groans” (Romans 8:22 NKJV). This world is not as it was meant to be. It is “subjected to futility” (Romans 8:20 NKJV), burdened by the effects of sin’s curse. It is an inescapable reality, the grey cloud that tries to overtake its accompanying silver lining.
Even in the Worst Times, Our Hope Endures
So even the holidays we look forward to the most will reflect that in some way. But reflecting this reality doesn’t mean that we wallow in hopelessness or self-pity. Far from it.
After all, our faith is rooted in hope; Christ is our anchor, sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19).
Jesus sympathizes with us in our weakness; He is familiar with every temptation we experience, including the temptation to despair (Hebrews 4:15). But even in the faith of despair, he kept his eyes fixed on joy:
His joy for the mission set before Him—to rescue and redeem people like you and me (Luke 15:5-7; 9-10). The joy of which the angels sang on the day of His birth (Luke 2:10). The joy that allowed Him to endure “the cross, despising the shame, and [sit] down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV).
And that joy is ours in Christ. It is the joy He gives us; the great reward that awaits us in heaven (Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:23).
Celebrate, Even as Joy and Sorrow Meet
We cannot see the purpose for our sorrow, but we know God does have a purpose for it. And He is with us in the midst of it, comforting us through His Spirit and His people (Acts 9:31; Galatians 6:2).
Whether you are experiencing a season of joy or sorrow—or, more realistically, both—let this be my encouragement to you: Celebrate with the joy that you have, to the degree that you can.
Don’t hide from grief; allow others to carry the burden with you. Don’t downplay your joy; allow those whose joy is in short supply borrow some of yours. And keep looking forward to the joy set before you—the hope you have in Christ—and the celebration that awaits us when Christ returns to make all things new (Isaiah 25:6).
Aaron Armstrong
Aaron Armstrong is a Marketing Director with Thomas Nelson Bibles. He is also the author of multiple books, documentaries, and Bible studies, including I’m a Christian—Now What?: A Guide to Your New Life with Christ and Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It. As an adult convert, Aaron writes to engage those curious about Christianity, encourage new believers, and equip those who come alongside them. For nearly 20 years, he has served local churches as a preacher, small group leader, and children’s ministry leader. He and his wife, Emily, have three teenage children. To learn more, visit aaronarmstrong.co.
