A Prayer for the Grieving Heart This Christmas
By Chelsey DeMatteis
Bible Reading:
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon[d] his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9:6
Listen or Read Below:
The season we most often anticipate is among us. Advent is here and the reminder of our hope being secured sears in our hearts all over again. It's a beautiful time, filled with colors that bring comfort and familiarity to our hearts. A time to savor the stillness and awe of what God has done and will soon do again.
This Christmas season, however, will mark the first time celebrating without one of my most treasured family members, my Grampa. Our hearts were deeply intertwined with love for eachother. As the only granddaughter and youngest of the grandchildren, you can imagine how tender our relationship was. The loss of His life was earth-shattering, to say the least. It felt like a part of my heart died the day he went to be with Jesus. Perhaps you, too, have experienced all the feelings that come with the loss of someone dear to you. It feels more overwhelming during a season when the rest of the world seems to be joyful. It's new, it's different, but because of Jesus, my hope is not lost.
As I settled in my cozy brown chair and began writing this devotion, the grief once again washed over me. However, for the first time in almost a year, the grief was met almost instantly with the reminder of the joy I can have within my circumstances because of Jesus. He is the gift of light in the darkness. He is the gift of peace in the waves of the storms. We see this by the way Jesus came as a precious baby. His arrival, though it seemed lowly, pierced the darkness forever. Hope was born that night.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." - Isaiah 9:6-7
When Jesus came, He brought forth the light of the world and the gospel of peace to a world that was wearily waiting for their Savior. The night Christ was born was deemed holy and perfect. The night of His birth delivered the invitation humanity had been waiting for. The gift of a Savior, the redeemer, the ultimate counselor, the perfect friend, the sustainer through all of life, and the giver of the eternal light that will never be dimmed. As you settle into this season, whether filled with joy or finding yourself in waves of grief, cling to the reminder that hope has come. Jesus is with you, His light will lead you, and He will meet your every need. Seek Him in the stillness and savor the work He is doing.
Let's Pray:
Father, thank you for the gift of hope you gave us when Christ was born. As I journey through this season, riding the waves of grief and joy, meet me in those places. Meet me tenderly through your Word.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Tero Vesalainen
Chelsey is the voice behind the Living with Less Podcast and author of the 52-week devotional More of Him, Less of Me: Living a Christ-centered Life in a Me-centered World. She writes devotions for Lifeway Women's Journey Magazine, Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. She also writes Bible reading plans for the YouVersion Bible App. Chelsey lives in Ohio with her husband and two children. You can connect with her on Instagram @chelseydematteis and at her website ChelseyDeMatteis.com.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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