Tidings of Comfort and Joy!

I have addressed this in the last few weeks but the theme keeps recurring from various sources around me. From relatives, acquaintances, the news media, and in a recent sermon, the same refrain – people are having a hard time getting through this time of the year!

The Pastor describes it as a “thin” time by which people feel near breaking point, more vulnerable to dark thoughts and feelings; where insecurities are magnified and things that were lurking in the shadows become huge and trigger negative behaviors.

Hopelessness and gloom seem to be more prominent than any other year this Christmas Season!

One morning recently, I was myself feeling something less than joyful when GOD brought to my attention a Charles H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening devotional based on Habakkuk 3:6. Spurgeon's insight on this short phrase gave me so much comfort and encouragement that I want to share it in its entirety. The writing is King James style Old English but the message is very clear – human behavior alters in response to feelings but GOD’s character is fixed so He cannot change. We must trust GOD but put no faith in ourselves.

"His ways are everlasting." Habakkuk 3:6

What he hath done at one time, he will do yet again. Man's ways are variable, but God's ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth: among them are the following--the Lord's ways are the result of wise deliberation; he ordereth all things according to the counsel of his own will. Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and is followed by regret and alteration; but nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than he has foreseen. His ways are the outgrowth of an immutable character, and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly to be seen. Unless the Eternal One himself can undergo change, his ways, which are himself in action, must remain forever the same. Is he eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender?--then his ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences. Beings act according to their nature: when those natures change, their conduct varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning, his ways will abide everlastingly the same. Moreover there is no reason from without which could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible might. The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers, mountains tremble, the deep lifts up its hands, and sun and moon stand still, when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of his people. Who can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? But it is not might alone which gives stability; God's ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right, and therefore can never pass away. Wrong breeds decay and involves ruin, but the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish. This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him the Lord is ever gracious to his people.

The abundance of negativity floating around at this time of year can be pervasive, affecting even the most upbeat personality.

That Christians are also affected by this malaise is nothing but an assault by our enemy. Satan would like us to forget that HOPE has come to earth in the person of JESUS CHRIST! That this is not a season of hopelessness but the reverse!

The devil wants us so engulfed in misery and darkness as to forget that the TRUE LIGHT that gives light to everyone has entered the world (John 1:9) to overcome the darkness and bring us peace. (John 16:33).

This is our season of Advent when Christians ought to be joyfully expectant as we prepare for and celebrate the Nativity of JESUS CHRIST and HIS second coming, but the devil will try to redirect our focus and steal the joy that these appearances guarantee. (John 10:10.)

We must not give in! We must do as GOD’s WORD says and resist Satan’s lies (James 4:7.) Believe the everlasting promises of the immutable GOD whose ways, which are Himself in action, must remain forever the same – He is eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, and tender.

Though hardships and trials may be our current reality we fight dark moods and thoughts and daily remind ourselves of who we are and what GOD has done for us through His SON.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. Isaiah 9:6-7

Ours are tidings of comfort and Joy!

We are in safest and surest hands! 

Prayer and Thanksgiving:  The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned Matthew 4:16. Holy and everlasting GOD and Father, we thank you for sending YOUR SON, the TRUE LIGHT of the WORLD to lift us out of depression and darkness. Thank YOU that because we are YOURS we have the light of life to withstand every weapon formed against us and we have no fellowship with darkness. Thank YOU for these good tidings of great comfort and joy – that YOU are with us, our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, our Everlasting Father, and our Prince of Peace. Thank YOU for the assurance that we are safe because YOU are the unchanging GOD and ever gracious to YOUR people. In this we rejoice and we pray all things in JESUS’ NAME. Amen.

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile