“I feel as if I’ve been hurtling down a mountainside on one roller-skate this year – and I’ve collided with at least 5 large rocks along the way.” So reflected a friend this week. I doubt she’s alone. This fallen world has a great capacity to leave us reeling – leave us feeling as if life is just one chaotic downward slide, punctuated with seasons of particular pain. Of course, there are times of joy as well, there is much good in God’s world, but a lot of the time it hurts. It all feels rather unstable. Like the Psalmist in Psalm 13, we can be acutely aware that our relationship with the Lord feels distant (v1), our thoughts can feel rocky (v2) – our relationships with those around us can be deeply painful (v2).
A shaky Christmas
Christmas can feel particularly hard. The ongoing pressures of life do not disappear, and heaped onto them are additional activities and expectations. For some of us, our diaries will be over-full with many (good) activities – at church, at home, in the wider community. We might be exhausted, spinning extra plates that end up looking dangerously wobbly at times. For others of us, the diary might be rather more empty than we would like: no gatherings, no invitations, no fun outings, a heart that feels torn in two. Christmas is often a time when the pressures of the year past – or the fears of the year ahead – come to the fore.
But, underneath the suffering, the diary confusion, the expectations, and the wobbles, the true message of Christmas is full of rock-solid hope.
A stable Christmas
Every year my social media feed is buzzing with debates about whether Jesus was born in a literal stable or not (spoiler alert: he probably wasn’t). But the word stable is entirely apt to describe so much of what his birth brings.
- Stable hope: the central message of Christmas is a parcel full of hope. The Son of God come down to bring us salvation (1 Tim 1:15). What a gift. What a life-changing privilege. Sins forgiven, love eternal surrounding every day. It’s a pivotal moment in God’s great rescue plan whereby people like us have the opportunity to move from death to life, from darkness to light. No more worries about eternal destiny – our future is certain and sure.
- Stable presence: the incarnation is also a sign of the Lord’s presence with his people (Isa 7:14). He came into the world as Immanuel, God with us. Then as a man on earth – now by his Spirit indwelling – the Lord is close. As Christians, we face nothing alone. There is never a situation that is faced without his shepherdly provision and his fatherly care. He is with us – and that will never change.
- Stable leadership: the Lord’s presence is powerful. He is not just human; he is the king of all things. He is the wonderful counsellor, mighty God – the government is upon his shoulders (Isa 9:6). So, we can be sure nothing is out of his control. Evil is, of course, active too but not even the worst scenarios are devoid of the Lord’s restraining hand. He is in charge. However, difficult things are, they are not out of control. In his good purposes, we can be confident that even pain is a context in which true beauty can grow.
- Stable growth in godliness: the Lord is active in the sanctification of his people. The one who was willing to empty himself is now in glory working out his good purposes in us (Phil 2:1-18). We can be sure that even the most intractable of sins we are battling in our heart is something that can change. Even the most entrenched behaviours that we are so ashamed of are not beyond hope. We are growing to be more like Christ. We will continue to grow. He is not asleep – he loves to mould and make us more the people we are designed to be.
A stable perspective
And what a difference those things make to our lives. They are not mere stories or abstractions but deep, relational truths that frame each day and bring purpose and love. They contain power for perseverance – light in the darkness. In a world that feels chaotic and harsh, they bring a firm foundation to our very being. And one day, Jesus will return again. This time, not as a baby but riding in glory. Then we will only know a perfect future, surrounding his throne, worshipping his name, in complete unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Whatever the ups and downs of this year have been – whatever your emotions going into this festive season – why not take a moment to reflect afresh on the wonder of Christmas. The precious gifts God offers are so much better than anything the trappings of 21st century life can bring – the balm he offers is so much more healing to our hearts than any quick fix we might find elsewhere. And, as we reflect, we can begin to rest – rest in the stable relationship he brings for me and you. We might even like to join in the ending to Psalm 13:
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Wishing you all a lovely Christmas full of Christ-centred hope.
