And Suddenly … (My Christmas 2023 Blog)

I had heard that the year 2023 was going to be a year of “suddenlies.”  I didn’t understand it at the time although the thought of “natural disasters” came to mind. But as the year progressed, I noticed that a lot of people I know were what seemed like suddenly passing away. In the summer alone, I attended about 1 funeral every seven days. I mean no disrespect, but it was hard to keep track of them all. Then in the fall another few passed away. Instead of making birthday cards, or seasonal Christmas cards, I found myself making sympathy cards.  And I felt the sorrow of the families left behind, partly because many of these deaths happened so suddenly that the families had no time to prepare for the huge loss of their loved one. 

 

To top it off, not only am I grieving all these friends and acquaintances that have died so suddenly, I struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  And it’s been a very strange fall, and now it’s almost winter.  We have had very little snow, and so there is no reflection of light on the ground.  It has been unseasonably mild, and many days have been cloudy. I’ve noticed how dark it is and how early it is dark. I believe today it was dark by 4:00, and the sun came up at around 8:25.  For someone with seasonal disorder, it is a real challenge for me not to be overcome by the long stretches of darkness during these days of late fall and early winter. And it doesn’t help that there’s these disturbing things going on in our world right now. I pray for the Jewish people every single day, and that people understand that they need to defend the freedom we in the west have enjoyed these many years. Heaven forbid we should be threatened to lose that to some 16th century barbarism from the Middle East.  And with grieving all these people on top of that, I need extra light in my life, both physical and spiritual. 

 

Yet, it is when things seem the darkest, that God shows up.  He showed up during tumultuous times in Israel’s’ history at the time Jesus was born. I quote this most famous passage in Luke, a passage we have likely all heard at every Christmas pageant. I can imagine that it was all very sudden.

 

Luk 2:8  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luk 2:9  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luk 2:10  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luk 2:11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luk 2:12  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luk 2:13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Luk 2:14  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

He also showed up when Jesus came and began His ministry.

 

Jhn 1:4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Jhn 1:5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Jhn 1:6  There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Jhn 1:7  The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Jhn 1:8  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Jhn 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Jhn 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Jhn 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Jhn 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

I love this powerful passage of Scripture. I am always amazed at verse 10 and 11. I can attest to the fact that I did not truly know God until He revealed Himself to me.  When I realized He created everything and all the incredible detail that went into it, I began to realize how big, great, magnificent, all wise, incredibly creative, AWESOME as in fall on your face in AWE at the majesty of God, and much much more. I saw God in the form of Jesus and He was walking this earth. He was the picture of health and smiling, and not a single care in the world. I realized that the God I had envisioned previously was nothing like the God who revealed Himself to me as my Friend!!!  Oh what a Friend we have in Jesus!! I couldn’t fathom why he chose me to be His friend, and He wanted to spend so much time with me. To this day, I marvel that He is my Friend and talks with me as a friend does. 

 

And as for verse 11, I believe the majority of His people did not receive Him because they just didn’t want to count the cost.  Even His beloved disciples denied Him.  Oh how blinded we are if we can’t see Jesus in the light of His revealed Word.  We need to look for Him in the darkness of our world and the sometimes darkness of our circumstances.

 

I’ve had a rough year, there’s no denying it, and I hope there are no more “suddenlies” unless it is the Rapture, or otherwise all good news! Regardless, I know my world is one of light because I walk with Jesus.  To those that are grieving loved ones, hold on tight to Jesus. He is the one with the brilliant torch to light your way no matter how dark circumstances seem. Remember, the celebration of Christmas is every day because God’s timeless gift of His only Son Jesus has come to light our way.  But as it says in John 1:12, we must receive Him in order to experience His tremendous gift of light, eternal life, and fellowship with Him.

 

May you have a very Merry Christmas!