“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)
“Mom, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas,” my daughter said with a discouraged expression. We were in the midst of the busy holiday season, but in her heart, the celebration wasn’t as joyful as it had always been.
Sadly, our lives had been turned upside down when my marriage of 26 years abruptly fell apart just a few months earlier. Not only did I understand her crushed Christmas spirit, but I shared it.
Though we tried to carry out our normal seasonal activities, Christmas just didn’t feel the same for me or my three children. Our family didn’t look the same. There were more tears and less laughter. More problems to handle and less enjoyment of the old traditions. There was more aching sadness and less joy. More fear and less hope.
I hugged my daughter tightly and reminded her, and myself, that even though life was messy and painful in the moment, we needed to try to redirect our thoughts from our problems to the manger. We needed to remember the hope Jesus’ birth brings.
In the Christmas story, we read about this promise of hope: “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord’” (Luke 2:10-11).
Most believers know this popular passage, but in the face of pain, suffering, and adversity, we can forget the meaning, even at Christmas. Hard situations can easily cause us to lose sight of the fact that we celebrate God sending His Son into the mess of our lives so we can have hope and joy no matter what.
This year has certainly not been easy for anyone with all the difficult events happening in our world. Maybe this year has also been hard for you because of personal situations.
Whatever the reason, if your Christmas spirit feels crushed, let’s remember that although life continually changes, Jesus and His love for us never do. Refocusing on the hope and joy available to us because of His holy birth can restore the most broken spirit.
It’s been years since I had that teary conversation with my daughter. But what I learned during that first difficult holiday season is that hope and joy have to come from Jesus, not from a month on the calendar. Our level of Christmas spirit will always depend on where we look for it.
Dear Lord, You know the heaviness of my heart this Christmas. Please help me refocus on You and the fact that You sent Your Son to this earth as a baby so I could live with hope despite my circumstances. Refresh my Christmas spirit, and infuse me with the joy I long to have. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It only takes one word from God’s Word to remind a woman she’s not alone. Your generosity is what places that reminder right in front of her. And right now, your gift has double the power. Thanks to a special year-end match, every dollar you give by December 31 will be doubled up to $87,500.00 — providing more devotions, Bible studies, and teachings that point women back to Jesus. Think about it this way: What feels small in your hands becomes significant in God’s. And your gift today could be the very answer to someone’s prayer. Give now, and let your generosity make twice the difference.
If your world has been rocked by separation or divorce and you long to heal and be happy again, both during the holidays and going forward into the new year, check out Tracie's books on her website: Living Unbroken: Reclaiming Your Heart and Your Life After Divorce and the accompanying Bible study, Living Unbroken: A Divorce Recovery Workbook.
You can also connect with Tracie for daily encouragement on Instagram and Facebook and enter to win a Living Unbroken book bundle.
2 Corinthians 4:18, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (NLT).
What can you do today to redirect your thoughts to the hope and joy found in Christ rather than focusing on your circumstances? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
© 2025 by Tracie Miles. All rights reserved.
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