Christmas is cancelled?

Christmas is cancelled.  Christmas is off for many people in UK and Europe. Disappointment, anger, resentment is bubbling up. We can’t celebrate Christmas as we would like with family, eating turkey, drinking and generally enjoying ourselves. 

What is God doing?  

As I wrote before, God did not send this virus but he did permit it. I believe through this pandemic, God is turning our hearts to him; gently taking away everything that intrudes between himself and people, starting with his own people and then with the world. Christmas after all has become a parody of the celebration of the birth of Jesus. For most people they have no idea what they are celebrating; they just want to celebrate. 

I am as disappointed as anyone that we won’t be seeing our family whom we haven’t seen in months. I love it when we get together and I have the pleasure of cooking a delicious dinner for everyone before we settle down to open presents and play games. But if I let disappointment rule in my heart and emotions, I’m going to miss the greatest opportunity to know God better, to find him as Lord of my life overwhelming every frustration and pain with his presence.

This is our time to know God, really know him, his goodness, kindness and love and share this with all those around us who have no hope to fall back on as we do, because that is what knowing God gives us – hope. We may have to socially distance this Christmas but that doesn’t mean we can’t communicate – we just have to communicate differently.  

This Christmas, carol services have moved online and I suspect many people will search and find one and hear not only the familiar carols, but also the good news that Christmas is about God becoming man and dwelling amongst us. I believe that with hearts feeling tender and sore from the disappointments of this year, people will be open to the Gospel as never before. They need hope to lighten the darkness of the pandemic which seems to be throttling the nations. This is a unique opportunity for our family, friends and neighbours to hear the good news from the comfort of their homes. 

I am praying for our church services to touch many people in our town and area like never before. Normally our carol services are packed with lots of fun things happening that maybe distracts the congregation from the heart of Christmas – the good news of a baby born to save the world from their sins.  This year my prayer is that the message of Christmas is broadcast loud and clear across the nation. 

Despite everything, we have so much to be thankful for and as God’s people may we climb out of the pit of disappointment and run into the arms of our Saviour, finding there the comfort and hope we all need. Then let that hope spill over from our lives into the lives of those around us. 

Happy Christmas – be blessed.