Comfort and Joy? Facing Death and Hard Times at Christmas
Posted: Monday, December 21, 2009
by Lorrie Davids
All of my life, at Christmastime, I have sung the words of the song God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen without giving it much thought. After certain events of the last two weeks, I am wondering what prompted the composer, who is unknown, to place the words "comfort" and "joy" into the same sentence. How can there be comfort AND joy, especially at Christmas?
Two weeks ago, my friend told me her dad was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. Last week we got a call from another friend who just learned her husband has terminal cancer. Both commented that this would not be a good Christmas. Their calls prompted my thought process. A few years ago a very close friend's daughter was in a fatal car accident just a week after Christmas. She has told me the holidays are not a good time for them. Time, for them, is marked as before the accident or after the accident. This same friend's father-in-law died just a few weeks ago. The loss of someone from our lives anytime is not a joyous thing, but around the holidays it seems particularly intense. I imagine it is in part from all the Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's memories that flood back each year. Just thinking of the possibility of being without my husband of 33 years prompts me to change my mind's wallpaper immediately.
Comfort AND Joy?
Throughout the Bible we are told God comforts and we are to comfort one another. If someone needs comfort, according to the dictionary, they need relief. If someone needs relief, they are not going through a good time. We don't think of someone who needs comfort as someone who has joy.
The definition of joy is basically delight, happiness: the result of something good or satisfying; a state of happiness. We typically don't believe that someone who is joyful needs comfort.
When Jesus was born an angel appeared to some shepherds to announce the good news of Christ's birth; news of great joy! As word spread, those who believed Jesus was the Messiah were excited and expected wonderful things; that all prophecies would be immediately fulfilled here on earth. It didn't happen that way and we humans began doubting the power of God. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be alive in those times. The excitement and dread his earthly parents much have felt. Jesus teaching in the temple against tradition and the Jewish leaders' interpretation of Scripture; what many considered heresy. The cheers as he rode into the city on what we celebrate as Palm Sunday and the jeers from the crowd that following week. His death, burial, resurrection and how those living then reacted. How wonderful and how horrible!
God brings us news of comfort and joy. Jesus was born to bring us comfort and joy. Granted, they are not usually coexisting states, but think about it. In our lifetimes we will have times of great joy and times of sadness, pain, emptiness. I think what the composer of the song was trying to let us know we have something to be excited about and relief for our troubles. I believe it can be summed up one name: Jesus! Because of the birth of Jesus, we can have hope. Hope that it will get better, hope that we will see our loved ones whole and healthy again and hope that we will come through whatever is put in our way. Without hope, we don't have comfort or joy.
Comfort and joy? Maybe not at the same time. Maybe not in the way our world perceives it, but in looking to the One who gives both - true comfort and true joy - I can see how it fits. I believe each one of us has a responsibility to those who need comfort (including material needs) and should celebrate with those who have joy.
If you are going through a rough time or a loss this Christmas, please look to God. He loves us so much he gave up his Son to cover our sins, our human nature. I can't tell you things will get immediately better, but He will make himself known to you and that will bring hope. Then, let someone know what is going on in your life. We were not created to be alone.
Maybe you know of someone to whom you can bring comfort or joy…or both. God places us in each others' lives for a reason. Look around a little and be aware of what you see.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! May you find and celebrate the reason it is called Christmas followed with comfort and joy for the New Year.
Comfort AND Joy?
Throughout the Bible we are told God comforts and we are to comfort one another. If someone needs comfort, according to the dictionary, they need relief. If someone needs relief, they are not going through a good time. We don't think of someone who needs comfort as someone who has joy.
The definition of joy is basically delight, happiness: the result of something good or satisfying; a state of happiness. We typically don't believe that someone who is joyful needs comfort.
When Jesus was born an angel appeared to some shepherds to announce the good news of Christ's birth; news of great joy! As word spread, those who believed Jesus was the Messiah were excited and expected wonderful things; that all prophecies would be immediately fulfilled here on earth. It didn't happen that way and we humans began doubting the power of God. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be alive in those times. The excitement and dread his earthly parents much have felt. Jesus teaching in the temple against tradition and the Jewish leaders' interpretation of Scripture; what many considered heresy. The cheers as he rode into the city on what we celebrate as Palm Sunday and the jeers from the crowd that following week. His death, burial, resurrection and how those living then reacted. How wonderful and how horrible!
God brings us news of comfort and joy. Jesus was born to bring us comfort and joy. Granted, they are not usually coexisting states, but think about it. In our lifetimes we will have times of great joy and times of sadness, pain, emptiness. I think what the composer of the song was trying to let us know we have something to be excited about and relief for our troubles. I believe it can be summed up one name: Jesus! Because of the birth of Jesus, we can have hope. Hope that it will get better, hope that we will see our loved ones whole and healthy again and hope that we will come through whatever is put in our way. Without hope, we don't have comfort or joy.
Comfort and joy? Maybe not at the same time. Maybe not in the way our world perceives it, but in looking to the One who gives both - true comfort and true joy - I can see how it fits. I believe each one of us has a responsibility to those who need comfort (including material needs) and should celebrate with those who have joy.
If you are going through a rough time or a loss this Christmas, please look to God. He loves us so much he gave up his Son to cover our sins, our human nature. I can't tell you things will get immediately better, but He will make himself known to you and that will bring hope. Then, let someone know what is going on in your life. We were not created to be alone.
Maybe you know of someone to whom you can bring comfort or joy…or both. God places us in each others' lives for a reason. Look around a little and be aware of what you see.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! May you find and celebrate the reason it is called Christmas followed with comfort and joy for the New Year.
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