Christmas is a ‘feel-good’ season; the prospect of time off work, new toys, clothes, gadgets, good food, celebrating with friends and family, and when we’ve opened all our presents, we have the Boxing Day sales to look forward to, where we can go and buy even more ‘stuff’!

To all my readers, I sincerely wish you a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

But on the other hand, you may be dreading the family rows, the relative who drinks too much or how to pay the next credit card bill. I have a friend, who doesn’t earn very much, yet because of her love for her more prosperous, adult brother and sisters, she did her best to buy them all a small present each. Sadly she received nothing in return, not even a card!

Where do you go when Christmas doesn’t feel as good as it should?

You go to the One who knows your situation, who sees what you’re going through, and who is with you through it all.

“The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you.”

Deuteronomy 33:27 (NLT)

Maybe you’ve never spoken to God before; maybe you’ve never had time for Him. Maybe you wonder whether He’ll have time for you or if He’s even there? The good news is that He loves you; His arms are outstretched to welcome you and underneath you to support you. You matter to Him.

He already understands your worries and your pain, because he’s been there. He knows what it’s like to be misunderstood by your family, to be rejected by your own people, and 2,000 years later, He knows when things aren’t working out for you. Jesus, the very One whose birth we are celebrating, is the same one, who heals the brokenhearted, who comforts us in all our troubles and who offers us a listening ear at Christmastime and throughout the year. He lifts up the downtrodden and comforts the bereaved. So take time to tell Him your troubles.

“For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.”

Hebrews 13:6 (NIVUK)

This Christmas look to the One who came to this Earth because He knew you needed Him.