[Friday's Devotional] - Too sad...

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 [NIV]

It’s a little bit strange that the season of joy and goodwill can leave people feeling so sad.  It is perhaps in the middle of an atmosphere of celebration and feasting that the contrast between our sometimes-fragile emotional state and the “perfect Christmas” we see portrayed in magazines and TV is most apparent.

Joy is a spiritual gift and we are encouraged to rejoice in all circumstances:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 4-7 [NIV]

For many people this will be very difficult at Christmas time, let us make an effort to find things to rejoice in – even when circumstances around us could make us sad.

Lord, give us your spiritual gift of joy, that we may see the positives in every circumstance. Amen

Dave MacLellan  (first published in 2010)