Trimmed Trees and Trials

Joy. This word is supposed to describe the Christmas season. As Believers, it is a word that should be used to describe us. However, what if the Christmas season brings not only brightly lit trees and creamy hot cocoa but uncomfortable trials, heavy heartache, and painful loss?

My own story lately has been filled with tears, anxiety, frustration, hurt, confusion, and opposition. Nothing like the ideal Instagram accounts I follow or the Hallmark movies I love to watch.

That being said, I have had to ask myself a lot of hard but necessary questions.

Is joy possible in this time of trial?

Can I have a thankful, hopeful attitude in this place, where things keep falling apart?

Harder still….

Do I really trust Him?

Do I really believe that God was faithful?

Do I really believe that God was worth obeying, following and living for?

Do I really believe God was a good God?

The answer to all of these questions is a confident, yes!

1 Peter 1:6 & 7

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire-may be found to result in the praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

In this you rejoice…

Christmas is an extraordinary phase in His Story (history). God became flesh and came to dwell among us. Christmas is God being good to us. Christmas is God’s perfect plan unfolding for the good of all men, a plan that included the Cross. Therefore, our joy is born out of the knowledge that God did the impossible, He saved us from our sins and made us new, and we are free. Salvation is ours through Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate!

….though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…

This new life and freedom and even true joy do not exclude us from trial, even at Christmastime.

Though my answer to all of the questions (above) is and will remain yes, the road there was a battle, is a battle. I have to wrestle with questions and truth, I have to seek and renew my mind diligently. I have to tearfully and tenaciously pray. I have to confess and submit. I have to humbly return to the feet of my Savior and let Him remind me again and again that He is good.

The trials have grieved me, and while I know He is good, I have often asked, Why? So that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in the praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I have been grieved by trials, a grief that has been accompanied by tears and loss, even at Christmas time.

I have been through the fire, to become like Christ requires fire and fire burns and any burn will hurt (for our good), even at Christmastime.

This Christmas season may be one where green garland dotted with scarlet berries is coupled with various trials, and sweet carols are partnered with fire; however, if Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate, is to be glorified, then through trials and fire, may I go.

Psalm 66:8-20

Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah. Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!