Handling Holiday Heartache
Many have experienced this perplexing paradox: walking through glittering, cheerful holidays with a heart aching from a malady of flesh or soul. We try ignoring the pain of our reality. Stuffing down the ache. Striving to behave so others won’t see the implosion happening within. Attempting to unzip our hard like a heavy garment to hang in the corner, so we can get through to the other side without breaking under the weight.
As if that were possible. As if, like a jack-in-the-box, our ache won’t jump out of the brightly-painted, music-filled container we’ve stuffed it into, the magnitude of hurt startling us each time. We attempt faking our way through the lights, the music, the gifting; valiantly ignoring the constant rub in our out-of-sorts soul. Where something’s gone terribly wrong. Fear gnaws away at peace. Deep loss slashes at our longing for comfort. Unexpected circumstances, touting an unknown resolution, chase joy to the periphery of our grasp.
The world and traditions may offer a momentary reprieve. But do nothing to fix the mess. To heal hurt or disease. To redeem the loss.
Sometimes we get lulled into a nativity’s portrayal of a clean and humble, yet peaceful introduction of Christ into the world. Those scenes don’t depict the mess into which He was born. His family faced many hards even before He drew first breath. A pre-marriage pregnancy stirring everyone in their village to wag their tongues and fingers. The difficult journey required by law so that, as part of a conquered people, they could be counted for taxation to build their enemy’s empire. Away from home and family, Mary’s labor began. Facing rejection at a comfortable inn, she gave birth in a stable full of stink and drafts and dirty, shuffling creatures.
Not at all fitting for a King. Yet, very fitting for ours. For Jesus came into a stinky, messy world to save a stinky, messy people. He came to heal the broken-hearted. To rescue and save the lost. To give rest to the weary and redeem broken relationships. The light of His glory penetrates into our darkest experiences. His hope floods joy into the heart of the despairing soul. His comfort, matchless and uninhibited, soothes and protects. He offers purpose for difficulty we walk through and for what lies ahead. His Spirit comes into our hearts to make His home; a very real, deep friendship pushing back crushing loneliness.
So, we take our holiday heartache to this King, who sees us, knows us, and longs to bring His holy perfection and glorious power into our mess.
Did you catch that? His holiness. His glory. His perfection. And His power. Into our mess. Our hurt. Our hard. To bring healing and resolution; hope and purpose. Such intimate, incredible love and care found nowhere else.
The source of our heartache may not change. But our ability to walk through the storm, to continue on the journey, becomes possible. Our faith in His purpose and timing strengthens. Our understanding clarifies that even this mess, this hard, can bring Him glory.
“Merry Christmas” may not resound inside the aching heart. But the echos of joy can. Because we know the One who holds our heartache in His hands, we can lift our heads and join the innumerable voices declaring, “Glory to God in the highest.” (Luke 2:14) As we praise our aching hearts are lifted. “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain”…as our hearts lift, hope seeps in… “to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12)
When we open our hearts and receive Jesus as our King, a miraculous shift happens in the spiritual realm. We are lifted from our hurt and mess and repositioned in the presence of His grace-filled glory, where we bask in His infinite love and comfort, until one day, all of our heartache will be wiped away. Forever.
And the people of God, who celebrate His first coming and eagerly await His second, say “Amen”.
Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash
