Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
During the advent season, many are looking forward to time shared with family and friends, however, others of us may find that this time of year has more challenges than pleasures. Gatherings present various issues for me. The biggest challenge is food. I have to navigate what is available so that I eat enough without getting so sick that I can’t enjoy myself. Clothing is another challenge as I am very sensitive to both fabrics and temperature. What may work one day may not on another. An additional hurdle is a heightened “flight or fight” response. Consequently, my physical response to uncomfortable social situations and personality differences are often exacerbated. While I will enjoy those with whom I celebrate, there are many others that I wish the celebrations would include, but will not; they will be sorely missed. There are also uncertainties in our life making this holiday season less than carefree. I am not alone in any of this as I recognize that many will find it difficult to enjoy the holidays this year due to their own health issues, the rigors of travel, the loss of loved ones, family conflicts, etc. Yet in our trials, we should still seek to experience the peace, hope, and joy that our Savior provides.
With all of the activities of this year, I am already spent so I must admit that I am less than enthused with respect to any more activities that make significant demands of me. However, I realize that celebrating the incarnation of Christ and the time spent with family will have benefits both spiritually and emotionally. I believe our ever gracious Savior understands my weakness and placed Isaiah 41:10 before me in light of the advent season as a reminder of my true source of peace, hope and joy.
Do not fear, for I am with you.
A few weeks ago Marie had minor surgery and commented that I always get very concerned when she is facing medical procedures. By way of contrast, I’m usually more matter of fact about my own health concerns. She’s not wrong…the thought of living life without her is inconceivable. It is an unshakable fear for me that I battle regularly. God is mindful that our first response in times of uncertainty is often fear. Therefore, like all good parents, our Heavenly Father reassures us that He is with us. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that in every circumstance: He has ordained the situation; He will be with us throughout; He will sustain us as only He can do; He will be glorified; and in some form or fashion, it will be for our good. This is our comfort and our source of peace whether we are merely trying to endure the Christmas season with joy, facing great trials, or some mix of the two.
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
Hope is a word regularly used during the Christmas season. Our culture offers many means of coping but I find that they all fall short of real comfort and certainly cannot produce any sense of hope for at the end of the matter, one is still alone. Similarly, I wonder how those who do not believe in God have any hope at all for without God to turn to is their hope not merely wishful thinking? As David says in Psalm 22, I am thankful that our Lord has been my God since the time of my birth for it has taught me to look to Him when I am struggling. It gives me hope to know that Almighty God who is infinite, never changing, self-sufficient, all knowing, all powerful, ever present, all wise, ever faithful, good, just, merciful, gracious, loving, holy, and glorious has come down to you and me and said “do not anxiously look about” for “I am your God” and “I am here”. He’s not out there somewhere in a vague nether land, but He has reached out to us to comfort us in our uncertainty and turmoil. He is with us and the fact that He is our God also means that He desires a relationship with us. The creator of all things loves us, wants a relationship with us and desires to relieve our anxiety. It is no small thing and should provide a great a sense of hope that applies to every situation of life. It is that sense of hope that allows us to find the joy to celebrate the birth of our Savior even when life is difficult.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you
Over the years God has provided many people to help and encourage me in faith and life. They have tended to my physical and spiritual needs or performed tasks for me that I could not do myself. I am thankful for them all. However, as loving, kind, encouraging and godly as they are, they cannot strengthen me or help me in the way that God can. Not only can God (the source of all power and strength) strengthen and help my body should He deem it appropriate, but He is also able to strengthen my mind and soul as well. In fact our souls are His primary concern. It is that strength that not only calms my fears but also gives me hope to endure. All powerful God says He will strengthen us and help us. He is our certain source of aide and this is a cause to be joyful and celebrate the birth of our King.
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand
Our righteous Father will provide what we truly need in every circumstance. When we are anxious, He offers peace; when we fall, He lifts us up; when we are weak, He strengthens us; when we cannot move, He carries us; when we are mistreated, He avenges us; when we feel alone, He is ever present; when we grieve, He comforts us; when we are overwhelmed, He delivers hope; and even when we are sorrowful, He offers joy…He supplies all of our needs and sustains us. This is our peace, our hope and our joy to know that God will supply all of our needs and uphold us with His righteous right hand no matter our circumstance.
The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever! Psalm 22:26
I imagine that on some level, those of us who find the holidays challenging because of our circumstances will celebrate Christmas much like Christ celebrated that final Passover with His disciples. He sat down to a meal with eleven men He loved and one that He knew would betray Him. He served all in the washing of their feet. He sang praise to God during the celebration knowing that His arrest, unjust trial, torture, and crucifixion were only hours away. He may have celebrated this holiday established by His Father with a heavy heart, but He celebrated looking past the struggle to the joy set before Him knowing what His sacrifice would accomplish and the glory that the Father would bestow upon Him. He did this because He knew that His circumstances were ordained by God the Father and that Father was His God, was with Him, would strengthen Him, and would uphold Him. Christ is our perfect example. He has shown us that we can praise God and truly find peace, hope and joy even in our affliction because God is with us, He is our God, He will strengthen us and will uphold us with His righteous right hand. We celebrate looking past our trials to abiding with God for eternity and the joy that it will bring. If you are able to thoroughly enjoy the celebration of Christmas, praise God! If you are like me and are celebrating in a time of distress, look to God and rise to celebrate knowing that the God of hope is with you to provide the strength, peace, hope and joy that you need.