Serenity Saturday Christmas Comfort
Saturday December 10, 2016
For some people, holiday seasons cause pain and difficulty. Suicide rates go up. Addiction problems resurface. Anger and violence sometimes re-emerges. Although holiday times are meant to be celebrated in close and caring relationships, many of us struggle. We long for comfort but experience challenges and loneliness during the busyness of the holiday season.
We were never meant to build relationships on our own. God knew we’d fail without Him and we have proved Him right over and over again. We get hurt and disappointed because of our expectations of others. We ourselves harm and disappoint. God sent Jesus to show us a better way. Through His healing power, we have hope that we can live in loving and caring relationships. That’s one of the amazing gifts of Christmas. 
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. (Isaiah 40:1-3 NIV)
God came to earth to be with us, to communicate His love to us in a way we could understand. God’s unfailing love, His comfort, His patient communicating, His persistent reaching out -- these are the characteristics of a loving relationship that will teach us how to build trust with other humans again. God is with us. We are not alone. We are not unloved. We are not living in isolation. In relationship with Jesus, we can dare to hope again. We can dare to trust. We can dare to celebrate.
Loving God, Thank You for showing me the way to comfort and peace through Jesus. I am no longer alone because you have come to be with me. Help me to release all past events around the holidays into your loving care. Heal me and lead me in the way of forgiveness this Christmas season. I am grateful that You care for me.
©2016 Partners in Hope
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