When Holidays are Hard

 Sometimes the holidays can be really hard. For a bazillion reasons.

 We're "supposed" to be thankful at Thanksgiving but, let's be honest, we're not.

 We're "supposed" to have the Christmas spirit but we feel like bah humbug!

 Let's face it. All the gratitude and holiday cheer are wonderful when you're feeling it, but can be horrible, absolutely horrible, when you’re not.

 Then there's the guilt we feel for not being in this thankful, joyful place.

 We're stressed out - about finances, work issues, and the ever growing to do list or Santa list.

 The doctors just delivered us the worst diagnosis possible.

 We are grieving a major loss.

Or several major losses as death has dealt its cards.

 How about the dreaded, extended family get-togethers fraught with tension, addiction, unresolved conflicts, or a million other things?

 Worse yet, our family went by the wayside a long time ago and we can’t seem to find our way back.

 OR

 The D word's delivered to us and our holidays go sideways as we deal with the unexpected questions.

Where will we live?

How did we get here?

What happened to happily ever after?

 Where is God in this?

 So many reasons we may have HARD holidays.

Thank goodness we don't have to go it alone.

Because Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world" John 16.33

Also, we are told in Isaiah 9.2, "In a land of deep darkness, a light will shine". Jesus is our light.

When all else fails, we know Jesus won't.

In a world of hard, this we can count on. We can count on jesus always. Praying for you in your hard.