“This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more? … You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment.”
David originally wrote those words as a personal, private meditation, known to us as Psalm 16:9-11. It became one of his “miktams”—a “golden meditation dealing with truth so significant it should be preserved forever.” (Exploring the Psalms, John Phillips)
Truth so significant that it should be preserved forever.
Oh, what a promise those words hold for us!
The birth of Jesus, his life, his death and resurrection, remind us of the beautiful gift we’ve been given: A full, abundant life as we walk with Him on this side of heaven.
And. You and I know that as we live in that promise, life can get … messy.
So as this Christmas season and its celebrations start to wind down, I’d like to remind you of something.
My note below is one I have shared in year’s past. It is another one of my favorites. I’ve read it hundreds of times, and the words always give me hope. May the same be true for you.
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There was nothing real fancy about the place of Jesus’ birth.
Stables have rarely been voted “Cleanest place in the world to have a baby.” There was the smell of wet, dirty straw. Snorting cattle and braying donkeys. No bed with turned-down sheets; no pillow with the little chocolate mint on top. And you have to believe that Mary and Joseph would have loved a good, hot shower after a dusty, dirty road trip.
It all seems rather messy, doesn’t it?
It was into this messiness that Jesus came.
Overnights in stables may not be part of our lives. But messiness is. A medical diagnosis, strained or broken relationships, unemployment, or a life that looks so different from what we imagined.
It is into this messiness that Jesus comes.
That is the Hope that comes with Christmas. Messiness happens, and life can sometimes feel tough.
But the birth of this baby Jesus brings Hope, and Peace, and Comfort into every single situation. No matter how messy the moment.
Jesus tells us, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
What a promise. Jesus meets us, right where we are.
And when He meets us, He brings us Peace.
That’s a wonderful Christmas gift.
Dear friend, your home, your world, your relationships may be messier than you ever imagined right now. Oh, how hard that must be. The struggle and discouragement are real. Words from others can’t solve the problems; wishes and good vibes won’t change anything.
But Jesus.
Jesus reaches out and holds your fragile heart in His loving hands. The darkness of your situation doesn’t change God’s faithfulness. Your emotions and anger don’t send Him away.
Ask Him to give you peace. Ask Him to give you rest. Ask Him for a miracle.
You are loved, cared for, and seen. He is present.
I am praying for you.
May you experience this wonderful Gift of Christmas in a new and refreshing way this week.
Into your messiness … Jesus comes.
