A few days ago, I turned on my radio and was blasted with Christmas music sounds. Now, I don’t know your take on the seasonal music phenomena, but I usually get tired of it really quickly. Except something about this rendition of “The Christmas Song” struck a chord in me.
As I listened to the Nat King Cole Trio sing the 1946 classic about “chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” I was instantly reminded of my childhood and the memories I had once made at this familiar time of year.
Before I knew it, I was transported back to my parents’ living room. I could almost hear the excitement in younger siblings’ voices as they laughed with glee – in matching pajamas – while opening gifts that were on their lists. In the background, I pictured my grandfather and dad hurriedly picking up wrapping paper and trying to pace us. Meanwhile, the smell of my mom’s annual Christmas breakfast made its way through the house.
But alas, that was years ago.
Long gone are the days of magical childhood Christmas mornings. Instead, they’ve been replaced by calendars filled with stops to make and lists to cross off. The only difference is that I haven’t been up to the tasks this year. I have to admit that, for me – like for many of you – 2023 was challenging. And as the holiday is upon us, it’s been hard to find the joy so easily found in yesteryear.
A few days ago, I pulled out my Bible to remind myself of the Reason for the season and hopefully cure my Christmastime blues. And you’ll imagine my surprise when I found myself stuck reading Psalm 23. It says:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. [Emphasis mine.]
At first glance, this passage may not seem to have much to do with Christmas. But upon further inspection, we see that the Psalmist is telling us how, regardless of the situation, the Lord is with us during life’s hardest battles, and that would look a lot different without Jesus in the picture. If it hadn’t been for the Lord and His loving grace and mercy, there would have been no baby in a manger, no salvation of the world, no comfort, no rest from a weary world.
Verse 4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
And regardless of what your “even though” looks like this Christmas, He’s there.
“Even though” you walk through a sickness.
“Even though” you’re having to face Christmas without your baby.
“Even though” your life has been turned upside down.
“Even though” your depression is causing you strife.
“Even though” you’ve lost all hope.
“Even though” the cancer is terminal.
Believer, He’s there. He is with us, for us, and beside us in whatever we may face on this Earth.
This Christmas, if you are grieving, hurting, or struggling with the hand you’ve been dealt in 2023, I pray you will remember that the baby born in a manger thousands of years ago is with you even still. After all, He is Emmanuel.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:22-23, KJV)
