How would it soften your grief if you better understood God’s love? How could a fuller grasp of God’s love for you in the midst of all your circumstances change your holiday season?
If this is your first (or your fifty-first) Christmas without a loved one, I pray you’ll be comforted by the only love that will never cease. If this season is less than joyful because you’re experiencing the consequences of choices you’ve made, I hope you’ll find consolation in remembering that God’s mercy will never come to an end – even for you.
If you’re struggling to comprehend this, ask yourself: when my child is devastated by a tremendous loss, do I grow weary and close my eyes to his pain? When one of my children disobeys me, do I throw up my hands and give up on her?
Of course not. Neither does our heavenly Father distance Himself when we need Him.
There’s nothing that can make us more anxious than not resting in God’s love when we’re overcome with grief. There’s nothing that can make us more insecure if we’ve experienced God’s love, but live in fear that it could fade away, one mess up at a time.
If this captures your sentiments, I can’t imagine how you’re coping emotionally. Living without the assurance of God’s loving presence if my husband or child were to die would unravel me. Fearing He’d withdraw even a fraction of His love when I disobey Him would emotionally destroy me.
I need to know God will always love me. And that He’ll always forgive me. You do, too. Thankfully “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is [his] faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV).
God is always with us including when we’re experiencing loss. And His love and mercy will never fade or come to an end, even when our pain comes from defying Him.
Living in light of God’s faithfulness makes a tremendous difference in how we weather life’s challenges – especially when we can visibly see His involvement in our circumstances. God often uses people to comfort those who are struggling. I’d like to be one of those comforters. If you’re having a difficult time this holiday season, please let me know so I can be praying for you.
Sheryl H. Boldt is the author of the blog, www.TodayCanBeDifferent.net. You can reach her at [email protected].
