Praying with Hope for Hurting People this Christmas

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). ” Matthew 1:21-23 ESV

I found myself envying Santa of all people recently, and it was kinda weird. Not in the sense that he gets an annual all-night cookie binge fest…. but, from centuries old folklore, he’s known for giving everyone what they want. As a gift-giving enthusiast I find the idea full of Christmas charm. I never grew up personally believing in Santa, but, I see the yule-tide allure. Good kids getting their just-rewards, wrapped presents delivered under picturesque trees, it’s better than Amazon! Then, there’s a cheeky part of me that wishes I could see the faces of some of the naughty kids I know getting a lump of coal instead of something fun. (I know a few years that would probably include this girl too!)  In the midst of a penny-pinching, budget-crunching year, I’m found scratching my head wondering how to get everyone I love something that makes them feel extravagantly special, and Santa is coming up short. Here’s the thing, it’s not just material gifts, there’s so much more I want to do……

There’s a friend who’s been in and out of the hospital for months, I want everything in her body to be miraculously whole. 

I know a single mom that is doing everything she can to keep her 3 kids in clothes and food on the table, but it’s a struggle. 

And I can’t forget the widower who is facing this Christmas alone, as he longs with acute pain in his chest for the woman he loves to be at his side this holiday season. 

I’m a friend, and a bystander in these real-life scenarios, but it’s crushing to witness the pain of people I care deeply about. 

While it’s the most wonderful time of the year, it’s also a time of the year that isn’t wonderful for everyone. Just when we’re about to loose it, Jesus walks on the scene. And as always, Jesus is the game-changer. Jesus is God in the flesh. Emmanuel, God with us. As we shift our focus to him, the hopelessness in these stories looses its power. Yes, Christmas means we celebrate that Jesus came to save us, but he also came to be here for us, and with us. Not just at Christmas time, but always. 

One of the ways that hopeless and hurting situations turn around is through the power or prayer. The invitation to draw near to God, and to abide is always open to us and an extension of abiding is prayer. When Jesus taught us to pray, he gave us permission to access Heaven on Earth. (Matthew 6:9-15) Prayer makes room for Heaven to counter hurting and hopelessness, and prayer draws us to Jesus opening our eyes to see Emmanuel is with us. 

Everything may not get fixed overnight for my friend in the hospital, the single mom, or the widower…… but I know that prayer changes something. Prayer is partnering with God, and submitting to his will. When we pray, our perspective shifts to seeing God at work, God brings the change. And part of the power of prayer, is that it changes us too. 

In a season where we want to believe that all of our dreams can come true, and in one magical night all the things we’ve longed for will be gifted to us, there is still the very real reality that suffering and pain are present with us. And for that acute pain, Santa can’t hold a candle to what Jesus can do. 

So while we wait, we are not powerless.

While we wait, we are not hopeless.

And we are not without something to do…..we wait, we trust, we worship and we pray. 

If anything, this time of year reminds us as we face challenges, as we long for wrongs to be made right,  as we hurt for others or suffer ourselves, we have Jesus with us. And as always, Jesus is enough.

Much love, 

Joy