Do You Have the Christmas Blues?

A lot of time and emotion is spent on trying to create the perfect Christmas, but for many it ends in Christmas blues. Here is what to do when that happens. #Biblestudy #Psalms #WomensBibleStudy #GoodMorningGirls #Christmas

“7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,  rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.”

Psalm 19:7-11

As soon as the Christmas trees go up in Target and Christmas music begins to play – some of us get anxious about all the work, money spent and people we have to be around during the holidays.

Even for normally cheerful people, we can feel a sort of melancholy mood settle in.

Christmas blues are created by unmet expectations, broken relationships, overwhelming to-do lists and exhaustion.

Retailers oversell many of their products.

They tell women they deserve diamonds.

They tell teens they must wear certain name brands.

They make toys look amazing in the commercials, but after 20 minutes of trying to wrestle a beloved toy out of the box, the children cast them aside and head back to their crayons and construction paper as usual.

The diamonds may never come and the wrong name brand might show up in the gift bag…then what?

Some of us start out well. We are excited about all the wonderful days ahead and we volunteer to lead things and plan to make 10 different types of cookies, do elaborate wrapping and decorate our homes to the hilt. But come December 26th – we are drained.

Christmas is a hard time of year for so many of us who have an empty chair at the table because of the loss of a loved one.

For others – there’s someone in the chair you really wish –wasn’t there.

And still for others, it’s a time of loneliness or of reflecting over the past year and it can be overwhelmingly emotional.

Hours and hours spent attempting to create a dreamy Christmas can be dashed in just a few seconds by one cutting word from a loved one or a burnt casserole.

Emotions are not dependable. They go up and down like a roller coaster.  Life is a series of valleys and mountain tops – ever changing from season to season.

But one thing is unchanging – God’s Word.

As we see in Psalm 19 – God’s word is sure, restoring our soul.  And during this season filled with so many emotions, we must look to Jesus and his Word for a firm foundation.

Isaiah 9:6 says:

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Baby Jesus in the manger is not a warm fuzzy story for our children.

He’s a strong fortress for you and me to cling to!

This child born in Bethlehem – the Savior of the world – is OURS!

He exceeds all expectations!

He fulfills all His promises!

He is the reason for all of our to-do lists and decorating and shopping and baking!

He is our cause for rejoicing.

But when He gets lost in the shuffle, the Christmas blues settle in.

Do you have the Christmas blues?

We must take time to drink from the living well – the living waters of God – and be women living well as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

The Lord knows our need to be restored every.single.day.

Do you need revived?  Read God’s Word. (v7)

Do you need wisdom?  Read God’s Word. (v 7)

Do you need joy? Read God’s Word. (v 8)

Do you need enlightened?  Read God’s Word. (v8)

God’s word is sweeter than honey. (v10) Friends, that is SWEET!

God’s word is to be more desired than gold, even much fine gold. (v10)

John Piper writes:

If you have a choice between the Word of God and GOLD, choose the Word of God.

If you have a choice between the Word of God and MUCH gold, choose the Word of God.

If you have choice between the Word of God and much FINE gold, choose the Word of God.

The point is plain.

The benefits of knowing and doing the Word of God are greater than all that money can buy.

Let the Christmas blues draw you to God and His Word.  Fall on your knees in worship to Him.

“If you have a better relationship with the Lord at the end of the holiday celebrations, you have had a very successful holiday.”
~ Penny Thrasher

Walk with the King,

 

Are you needing accountability in your walk with the Lord? I’m here for you!  Starting on January 15th, we’ll be reading the book of Romans – one chapter a day, 5 days a week. This Bible Study should take between 5 to 15 minutes a day and I know it will be sweet for your soul!  To find all of the details – click here.  

The optional Journal is available on Amazon.com.
The book of Romans is life changing!!!

I hope you will join me as we go deep in 2018
and apply God’s Word daily.

 

 

20 Comments

  1. Hope you and your kids have a great christmas. The year 2018 will be blessed for you all. As long as you stay on Jesus feet. Love you Courtney, you rock.

  2. Courtney, you hit it right on the head. My blue Christmas started at Thanksgiving with not a word, but total non-acknowledgement of all the work I put in getting my husband’s family together. Now that we’re back Overseas, it just doesn’t seem worth the effort. I still feel hurt and betrayed and just thinking about making the holidays bright brings it back to the forefront. My husband doesn’t seem to know that Christmas is next week other than his gift to me is wrapped and under the tree I decorated, alone.

    1. Carol I feel your worldly pain, may this draw you closer to Jesus, his humble suffering and sacrifice. Walk in his shoes towards Grace.
      It’s a hard one which I’m challenged with daily too. Happy Christmas.

  3. Thank you so much for pointing us to the Word of God…our beautiful Lord Jesus! I have been thinking a good bit this Christmas season of the things that are temporary and of things eternal. There is a great difference, isn’t there? May we draw nigh unto Him Who is from everlasting to everlasting! ????

  4. Thank you for this post. I have been so depressed all month because I feel like this is going to be our last Christmas as a family. My non-Christian husband’s bad behavior and hateful words are no longer bearable and I am waiting until after Christmas to make hard decisions. I am only barely keeping it together for the sake of my 10 year old daughter. Please pray for me…

    1. Laurie,

      I’m so sorry that you are going through such a difficult time. God is there for you, even when it doesn’t seem like it. I don’t know if it will be your last Christmas as a family, but I do know it won’t be your last as God’s precious child. He loves you even more than you love your daughter, as hard as that is to believe. I know you know this, but sometimes, we all need reminding. I’m reminding myself right now as I write this!

      Father, I ask for you blessing on my sister, Laurie. May she feel the joy and peace that Jesus brought to the world. May your love fill her heart and her home. Let her know that you have not forgotten her. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

      ~ Nicola

  5. I will pray for you all this Christmas. .I have a husband in heaven this year that I miss so much., so yes I get what hurt feels like. I will not give up, as I know our dear Jesus has our back. ..girls he’s got us we got him, we can do this. ….keep your eyes on him.

  6. I started out peppy but the closer it gets to Christmas the sadder I feel and now a few days before Christmas I can’t control the tears.

    I appreciate this post and feel encouraged by it, it helps to know some folks recognize that the holidays are not always cheerful for all people.

  7. May well be my worst Christmas ever. Every bit of flaws and brokenness in me have crashed in. I am at a loss for how to escape my short comings. Pray for me, that I am freed fully from the enemy’s grip.

    1. Dear AMH,

      I am saying a prayer for you this morning. This world is so very broken. Do not be discouraged. We are all flawed – that is what the cross says – but Jesus – Emmanuel – God is with us and he loves you just as you are. Rest in his grace and mercy. Stay strong sista!

      Lots of Love,
      Courtney

  8. This Christmas was supposed to be my first as a wife, but 3 weeks before the wedding, my fiance called it off, saying he wasn’t ready, and no longer wanted to be together…I feel lost and don’t know what to do next.
    I know God is sovereign and works all things out for good. I know that His ultimate plan is not for my happiness but for His glory. I know that I am his child and am saved,and any good thing that happens after that is just a bonus because belonging to God is everything… But there are days, really tough days.
    Thank you for this post and providing a space for the broken ones to share their stories. Ultimately things will get easier as we move on from this season of pain into a season of acceptance and gratefulness when we look back and see the good that has come out of the hard things, but for this time it is nice to simply mourn with those who mourn.

    1. OH Jenn!! I’m so very sorry. I cannot image your heartbreak. My heart hurts for you and I am saying a prayer for you this morning. May you experience the comfort of the Lord and feel a deeper intimacy with God than you have ever felt. God is with you and He loves you.

      Courtney

  9. Thank you for this post. This Christmas was so hard. We had 2 sudden deaths in the family, had to pay for a new boiler, and our kids have been sick for two months with croup, stomach flu, and colds. I didnt even send Christmas cards and barely got the shopping done online. I need a vacation from 2017:(

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