Heartache & The Holidays

The holiday season is pure magic. It’s the sugary, sweet reward at the end of each long year. Full of cozy crackling fires, friends and family, the holiday season is close to perfection in my book.

As loved ones gather around our dinner tables, sipping peppermint hot cocoa while the cookies are baking in the oven, it is easy to recognize that the holidays are a time set apart. They are special.

I just wish hardship and heartache had a pause button.

Every year when the holiday season comes around, I secretly wish I could somehow activate a magical bubble of protection around the last two months of the year.

November and December are such beautiful months with many holiday celebrations. After all, they are the months with thankfulness, love and joy at the very heart of them. Ideally there should be no room for sadness, grief, loneliness or loss. Yet…heartache seems to finds its way to intertwine into all of these moments, sitting heavy on our chests and pulling at our attention.

During the holidays I notice myself wishing that all pain would step aside, out of the circumference of my make-believe protective holiday-time bubble and give way to joy, celebration and unending helpings of peace on earth.

Wouldn’t that be great? But in reality, that does not happen. Time does not stand still. Unfortunately, there is no secret button to activate a protective bubble. Heartache weaves its way into even the most beautifully decorated home, the perfectly planned holiday party and might even sit as an unwelcomed guest at the festive Christmas dinner table.

Heartache weaves its way into even the most beautifully decorated home, the perfectly planned holiday party and might even sit as an unwelcomed guest at the festive Christmas dinner table.

Heartache comes in all shapes and sizes. Maybe this holiday season you are experiencing your first Christmas alone. In my corner of the world, I have friends who are grieving the loss of a spouse and father, facing their first Christmas without them. Others are battling cancer and some waiting on test results from their doctors.

You could be recovering from an injury or missing kids who are estranged. You might be battling depression and anxiety or maybe experiencing a situation like me – and facing the end of another year with dreams and promises that still have not come to pass.

Just this week my husband and I found ourselves sitting anxiously in a cold emergency room, listening to the beeps and alarms of what seemed like a million machines. We felt scared and unsure of the health issues he was suddenly faced with and were at the mercy of many doctors and nurses. Being in the hospital was not on our list of things to do to celebrate the Christmas season. Yet there we were, waiting hours and hours for answers.

In this instance, for us, God used a frightening situation and turned it into something good by placing us where we needed to be. He placed us with an amazing doctor, who not only corrected the concerning problem but gave us life-changing options for healthcare going forward. These options will greatly increase our quality of life regarding my husband’s health care. And a full recovery is on the horizon.

During this unexpected turn of events and this journey to the hospital, we were faced with a decision. Do we give way to the fear and let it overwhelm us – becoming angry with God for not protecting us from this? Or do we stand firm on what God has promised us? Our faith in the Lord remained unwavering; we kept our eyes on Jesus and surrendered to His will. It was not a fun experience and brought great stress into our holiday season but now we have a testimony to share. God is faithful! And going forward we feel we will have so much more freedom.

Whatever your unique situation may be that is causing heartache this Christmas, I’m here to tell you the good news.

Friends, there is hope! There is always hope!

And His name is Jesus.

Whatever your unique situation may be that is causing heartache this Christmas, I’m here to tell you the good news.

Friends, there is hope! There is always hope! 

And His name is Jesus. 

One of the most beautiful things about the holiday season is that its main focus is Jesus. We celebrate Christmas because it is the day Jesus was born. 

Jesus is our joy.

Jesus is our hope.

Jesus is our savior. 

Jesus is our healer.

Jesus is the life giver. 

Jesus is the promise keeper. 

Jesus is the reason for the season! 

When I think about what Christmas means – the birth of Jesus, the reason He came and the life He lived here on earth – I am always filled with such awe and peace. He came into our world, born of a virgin, to ultimately be the sacrifice for our sins. He came to suffer. And suffer He did.

Friends, Jesus faced the greatest heartache ever known to man as He hung on the cross for you and for me. The sin of the world was placed upon Him and at that moment, His father turned away. 

Jesus faced His heartache head on, willing to go through it all to attain the end result – eternity in heaven with us.

What a savior! 

Because He suffered, we to can find comfort in our suffering by knowing He fully understands. He is the soft place we run to find peace in our troubles and a healing balm for our deep wounds of heartache.

Also, consider Mary, Jesus’ mother. I love Mary’s pure heart of surrender. Can you imagine Mary’s fear, uncertainty, and yes, even heartache as she prepared to tell others she would birth the savior of the world?

What was asked of Mary was not a little thing. It brought scandal, ridicule, misunderstanding, judgment and even risked her very life. Yet, in spite of what heartaches she faced, what may lie ahead, and the knowledge of what could happen to her, the weight of her burden was usurped by her desire to please the Lord. When approached by the angel of the Lord, Mary genuinely replied, “Let it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:26-38)

She had experienced a miraculous encounter with God that bolstered her confidence and she believed He would be with her every step of the way. Her willingness to respond quickly with “Your will be done” proved her faith. She acknowledged her heartache yet forged ahead and trusted God to see her through the turbulent unknown. 

Friends, God understands. If your heart is heavy this holiday season and you are struggling with finding the desire to celebrate, to decorate the tree and to wrap the presents, you are not alone. Like Jesus, and like Mary, we can choose to keep walking forward. Face the heartache head on (acknowledge it, feel it, process it) and then surrender to God’s timing for the answer to your prayer. Spending time in His presence will bolster your confidence. God’s presence gifts us with the peace and joy that we need to enjoy the glory of the season.

If your situation is overwhelming, make sure you give yourself permission to skip parts of the Christmas celebrations that you are not up for this year. Yet, allow your heart to stay open to Jesus – the reason we celebrate – and make plenty of room for the Savior of the world to dwell in your heart this Christmas. Celebrate Him, even if that is all you can do. I am convinced, if you do, you will discover the peace and joy of the beautiful Christmas season, wrapping you up in warmth and comfort.

Gods word says, in Psalms 147:3,

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

In another passage, it is written, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18

And yet another, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” — Isaiah 26:3. 

Let’s celebrate the holidays with the resolute assurance that God is with us – facing our heartache head on and saying, “Let it be to me as you have said,” Fear not!

He keeps his promises and we are never alone.

Praying that sweet Jesus will be the healing to your heartache this holiday season.

Be blessed,

~ Stephanie