‘Tis the season…that God is close to the broken hearted’
For the myriad of hurting hearts this Christmas.
The Christmas lights were turned off in St George’s Square Glasgow on 24th December 2014 as a mark of respect to those who tragically lost their lives there when a lorry careered into a crowd.
Christmas lights have went out in homes, hearts & lives across the globe- extinguished by loss, grief, terrorism, cancer,sickness & suicide.
Anguish has been painfully, indelibly etched on the broadsheet & tabloid pages carrying news from Yemen to Myanmar & everywhere in between & beyond.
This month I’ve sat across a desk from too many people for whom Christmas is not the most wonderful time of year but rather the most difficult, dreaded time of the year.
I’ve stared into eyes brimming with tears for as long as I could bear –
Hearing the deafening silence that trails behind grief.
Sensing the ongoing heartbreak & unimaginable loss.
Feeling the palpable pain of an aching void left behind.
I’ve been reminded of the words from Les Miserables:
‘There’s a grief that can’t be spoken.
There’s a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone.’
For many this Christmas there are empty chairs & places in their homes and hearts.
For them, Christmas accentuates winter of the heart & soul.
Like in Narnia – it seems that it’s always winter & never {truly} Christmas again.
There’s no merry & bright.
No wonderful ,white Christmas.
No magic & sparkle.
Yet, it was into darkness like this- indeed because of darkness like this, that God sent His Son- as Imanuel- God with us.
Jesus, the Word of God, God the Son entered our world as a baby in the manger.
‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.'(John 1:14 NIV)
Or as Eugene Petersen paraphrased this verse:
‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.’ (John 1:14 MSG)
I also love the deep truth of this paraphrase:
‘He pitched His tent in the darkness of our valley’
(Geoff Thomas)
God came down to be where we are.
Bringing:
Love to the unloveliness of this fallen planet
Hope in hopelessness
Everlasting light in deep darkness
Comfort to those who mourn
Healing to broken hearts & lives
Freedom to captives bound in sin.
‘Christmas means Jesus came down & got involved in suffering. He hears your cries’
(Tim Keller )
‘The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’
(Psalm 34:18 NIV)
‘When Love came down to earth
And made His home with men,
The hopeless found a hope,
The sinner found a friend.
Not to the powerful
But to the poor He came,
And humble, hungry hearts
Were satisfied again.
What joy, what peace has come to us!
What hope, what help, what love!’
(Stuart Townend)
When you strip away the trimmings & decorations, Santa & the reindeers, the indulgence of over eating & over spending…
When you listen for the still small voice of God…
When you follow the shepherds & the wise men to the stable …
There you’ll find the heart beat of Christmas- Jesus, God the Son- the reason for the season.
At Christmastime, you may find Jesus rejoicing with those who rejoice – at family gatherings & social events.
But I think you’ll be more likely to find Him mourning with those who mourn, drawing alongside the marginalised, the broken & the needy.
During His time on earth, he was familiar with sorrow. He knew the reality of grief & loss. The shortest verse in the Bible simply states,
‘Jesus wept'(John 11:35)
‘Yes he walked my road, and He felt my pain,
Joys and sorrows that I know so well;’
(From the squalor of a borrowed stable-Stuart Townend)
He knows us. He loves us, & He cares deeply about us. The One who scattered the stars at creation’s dawn is also a Collector of tears:
‘You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.’
(Psalms 56:8 NLT)
Even through tears, at this time,at the heart of Christmas you’ll find Jesus. In Jesus you’ll find the hope & comfort you desperately need.
He says ‘Come to Me’
This Christmas, Jesus is not lying in a Christmas card stable. He is not sitting at a Pinterest perfect Christmas dinner oblivious to your need. Rather, He’s reaching down & reaching out – to your hurting heart.
He’s waiting for you – to come to Him.
Jesus said,“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”(Matthew 11:28 NIV)
He’s asking, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
‘While God may not deliver us from pain & suffering, He’ll walk with us through it’ (Tullian Tchvijan- It is finished)
God is with us:
In our pain
In our grief
In our sorrows
In our darkness
In our trials
In our triumphs
In our daily lives
When the lights are switched off at Christmas, only Jesus can colour to our hearts & lives-for He is the great light of the world
‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. ‘(Isaiah 9:2 NIV)
Blessings,
Ruthx
Blessed! 