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Comfort & Joy

In all honesty, the holidays can be a struggle for me. This is nothing new. When I was sixteen, I lived through Christmas knowing that my Daddy planned to leave after one last holiday together as a family. Despite this, I hoped he would change his mind. When he didn’t, I was devastated.

Later in life, we lost loved ones and had to navigate the difficulty of moving forward with an empty place around the tree. It’s bittersweet, especially when we recognize that those we love are with our Savior in Heaven.

So how do we beat the holiday blues? We fix our eyes on the hope that Jesus brought when He left His throne in Heaven to make His home among us. This hope is our comfort that, even in this fallen world, we can have the profound peace and joy that Christ came to give us.

This year, I’m grieving the loss of my Daddy in a new way. He passed from this life in April. It’s not been easy to cope with his loss. We had a strained relationship for many years, but God restored our connection over the last few years of his life. I am forever grateful for the time we did have together.

If you are hurting this season because of loss, you are not alone. God sees you. He wants to restore you. And He sent Jesus to bring comfort and joy. I pray that you find peace and rest in knowing that the God of the universe wants to mend your heart and mind. In fact, He promises to do it:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Rest in the knowledge that Jesus is carrying this burden for you. And give it to Him. Only then will you truly experience comfort and joy.

© 2024 Jill Cook. All rights reserved.

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