For many, the Christmas season is filled with joyful celebrations and moments of reflecting on God in the flesh. For others, it is a time of mourning and a reminder of deep, personal wounds that can fester amidst the surrounding merriment. For those who are struggling, the season can feel especially lonely, but there is hope for the hurting at Christmas.
According to the CDC, December is a critical month for drug and alcohol-related deaths. In a little over a decade, nearly 91,000 deaths attributed to substance abuse have occurred in December alone. In a season that should be filled with peace, many people are falling into a pit of despair, experiencing Christmas strife rather than joy.
The story of Christmas is perfect for shedding light on the hope found in our darkness. Jesus entered a world filled with pain, where people longed for the Messiah but faced constant disappointment. At his birth, his people were being counted by an oppressive Roman government, and he was soon hunted by a jealous tyrant. Yet, in the midst of this chaos, God accelerated His plan for redemption. We have a powerful hope to share this Christmas with those struggling under the pressures of a world that feels indifferent to their pain.
As pastors, you see this pain firsthand and are often the lifeline for people who don’t know where else to turn. During such a busy season, it can be a crushing burden to bear. But God’s willingness to enter a dark, dirty, sinful world did not end on that night in Bethlehem long ago. He wants to enter into our messiness, our overwhelmed and overworked lives. What a relief to know we don’t have to clean up our act first to make room for him. He wants to be part of the process.
For more than 30 years, The Life Recovery Bible has been a guiding resource to help people enter the process of restoration. It speaks right to the hearts of readers as they rediscover hope and healing in God’s beautiful story of redemption. It’s a wonderful tool for helping those dealing with addictions, but this Bible can be so much more. It is a manual for God’s recovery plan, highlighting our need to surrender and depend on God’s strength instead of our own.
As you face the highs and lows of the Christmas season, The Life Recovery Bible can be the perfect companion as you minister to the needs of others and as you take some time for self-care and reflection.
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” –John 1:4-5, NLT.
This article originally appeared at ChurchAnswers.com and is reposted here with permission.
