I sit in the soft silence of a church service and draw in a deep breath. “Get it together,” I tell myself, “It’s the holidays and you’re supposed to be happy.”
But the reality is…I’m hurting. I miss my Grandpa who slipped home to Jesus last summer. Other holidays seasons have held similar struggles. I remember fighting back tears on our journey of infertility. I’ve sighed from exhaustion after pushing through end of the years projects. I’ve battled seasonal depression.
Rather than being a comfort, all of this makes me even more certain that this is the year I must.be.okay.
But in the quiet dark it seems I hear a whisper deep within my heart, “Go ahead and be broken…I’ll hold you together.”
It turns out holding it together isn’t in my job description: “God holds all things hold together” {Colossians 1:17}.
We serve a Savior who knows Christmas is not just about rejoicing—it’s also about the cross. He understands what it is to be human, to have tears slip down our cheeks and hope seep out our souls. He grasps what it’s like to be frustrated with the injustices and troubles of this world. He knows.
It’s okay to have a hard day during the holidays.
It’s okay to cry . . . and laugh too.
It’s okay to be concerned about what the new year holds.
None of that is too big for God to wrap His arms around. He’s got you. He loves you. He is not telling you to “get over it.” Instead He is forever saying: Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. {Matthew 11:28}
Trying to be perfect is exhausting.
Ignoring our hurt only drives it deeper.
Pretending our pain isn’t real only makes it yell louder to get our attention.
Rest, friend, rest . . .
Because you are loved.
Because you are safe.
Because you are cherished beyond all you can imagine.
Yes, go ahead and be broken . . . God really will hold you together.
XOXO
{Wall Street Journal bestselling author, follower of Jesus, friend to YOU}
More encouragement like this: You’re Going to Be Okay {book}
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