Thanks in Difficulty

Life has ups and downs that tend to be magnified during the holidays. Sometimes what starts out to be a Happy Thanksgiving can turn into a family feud that carries straight through to the beginning of the New Year. 
 
If you feel like your life gets a little crazy around the holidays, you are not alone! Holiday blues can affect everyone young and old.
 
Part of my problem when it comes to holiday blues is that I dream of the “perfect holiday.” Of course it’s rare when things ever go “perfectly.” Even the idea of a flawless holiday is a set-up for trouble.
 
One year, I was so discouraged in the days leading up to Thanksgiving that I actually pulled my twelve pound turkey out of the freezer and threw it out into the backyard. Have you ever been so frustrated over family stuff that you wanted to hurl your turkey out the back door? Take it from me. It’s not a good idea.
 
I suppose that turkey symbolized all of my pent up feelings. Releasing it back into the wild of my yard cleared my head for a few minutes and made by boyfriend (soon to be husband) laugh. But it was a little gross later that day cooking the thing after I knew I had flung into the hedges by the flower bed!

The most helpful thing I’ve learned from my turkey time troubles is that I can seek God when discouragement hits. As I focus on the Lord, my life becomes centered and clear.
 
Any time we experience disappointment, we can go to the Lord in prayer--and He will intervene. The cool thing about prayer is that it’s for all times, good and bad. The Psalms say, "My life is God’s prayer" (The Message, Psalm 42:6). In fact, we can use our trouble to get closer to God. As we draw near to Him, He steadies our steps.
 
God is the author of wholeness. He reaches into our brokenness and brings restoration. Are you from a broken family? Do you spend your holidays traveling from one parent's house to another parent's house? If so, that’s hard! You can be open with God about all of your family struggles. The book of Psalms asks: 

Is anyone crying for help? God is listening, ready to rescue you. If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath. Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. (Psalm 34:17-19, The Message)

God wants to hear your broken dreams, disappointments, and your fears. Did your brother hurt your feelings? Did your mother make you mad? Did your boyfriend or girlfriend break up with you the day after you went to the mall and bought him or her an expensive gift? God cares. God is totally into the details that affect your life.

Pile your troubles on God's shoulders--he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin. (Psalm 55:22, The Message)

Your entire life may have changed since this time last year, but God remains unchanged regardless of the craziness of life. With God, there is no uncertainty. 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)

As you are real with your heavenly father about the struggles that face you, he will help you be authentic in your relationships with your family and friends. I know how much it hurts to come from a broken family, and how deep that pain can be around the holidays. But stuffing your feelings inside a Christmas stocking is not a good idea. Turn the sock over, let the bitterness go, and pour your pain out to God.
 
God gives us the peace we need deep inside to eliminate holiday stress. His peace is an inner calm that enables us to sing “Silent Night… Holy Night… All is Calm… All is Bright” even when there’s a blizzard outside. It’s healthy to release the difficult feelings we encounter to God in prayer. Only as we do can we experience His wholeness and share His healing with others. 

But you, God, shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain. (The Message, Psalm 3:3-4) 

Have you ever shouted your prayers up to God? The Lord loves your uniqueness: Sing it, shout it, write it (that’s what I do), dance it, cry it--do whatever it takes to get real with God. There’s no substitute for getting real with Him. Faux wood and stone look nice from a distance, but once you move closer to artificial materials you can tell they are fake. Mahogany and marble, on the other hand, are of great value. They are not manufactured by man. They are created through the pure pressure of the elements around them.

It’s the same way with us. Through every pain you experience and give to God, He creates something beautiful in you. Having a thankful spirit (even in difficulty) enables your heart to shine with the same golden light as the Bethlehem star.

I’m praying that the warmth of God’s love will embrace you and hold you tight throughout the 2009 holiday season. Sometimes we all get a chill and some of us toss our turkeys, but God is forever faithful through the night season and all the day long.

Here’s a final thought from the Psalms:

These are the things I go over and over, emptying out the pockets of my life. I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving--celebrating, all of us, God's feast!

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God--soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God.

When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer. (The Message, Psalm 42:4-6)

~ Jackie O.