A New Christmas Season
Mindy Simmons
I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with rest, joy, and gratitude. Whether your Christmas decorations go up November 1, after the turkey is carved, you keep a tree up year-round, or you don’t decorate at all, one thing is certain: Christmastime is now officially here!
As we step into the Christmas season, it’s exciting to anticipate the traditions, special meals, and new memories to be made over this next month. It’s also easy to feel the weight of the year we’re leaving behind. Perhaps 2024 brought unexpected challenges, loss, or uncertainty. Maybe this is your first Christmas with someone new in your life, or your first without someone you dearly miss. The season can also bring its own stresses due to busyness, financial strain, or complicated family dynamics.
If any of that resonates with you, take heart - Christmas offers us a unique opportunity to embrace a new season, one marked by hope, peace, and the unwavering faithfulness of God.
“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23
The prophet Jeremiah penned the words in Lamentations during one of Israel’s darkest times. Amid destruction and despair, he found solace in this truth: God’s compassions never fail, and His faithfulness is as steady as the sunrise. These verses remind us that no matter how challenging our circumstances, God’s mercies are always present, renewing us day by day.
In the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s easy to lose sight of this truth. But every single day is a gift from God. Let’s take time to pause, reflect, and savor the moments He gives us. Pick up an Advent Journal and spend time in His Word each day. When worry threatens to rule your mind, choose to instead thank God for His gift of mercy every day and seek the peace that only He can provide.
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas and close out the year, you may feel caught between reflecting on the past and anticipating what’s to come. No matter how 2024 unfolded for you, remember this: God is not finished with your story. His compassions are new every morning - not just at Christmas or on January 1. May this Christmas season be a time of renewal, joy, and unshakable hope. God’s faithfulness never wavers, and His love for you is endless.