Have you ever been a little off kilter during the Christmas season? Sometimes, it is hard to participate in holiday activities when God has been silent, and we are depressed. This devotion reminds us that God is always with us.
Nuggets
- The whole time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, God was silent.
- The Israelites had to have been depressed by the end of 400 years of silence.
- God finds us where we are – even if we are depressed and want to cancel Christmas.
- God may be silent — but He is there with us.
Herald was a little off kilter. Yes, he was setting on top of the Christmas tree where he should be. (Yes, I named my tree topper. Oh, yes, I am really good at naming things.)
To me, he looked like the Leaning Angel of Pisa.
It probably wouldn’t have been such a big deal to me if I hadn’t decided to put Gloria on top of the tree.
Don’t get me wrong. Herald is a nice angel. His traditional look really set off the nine-foot Christmas tree we had in the conservatory. He looked regal, like an angel should. He belonged on the nine-foot tree.
Gloria was always on the six-foot tree in the parlor. Gloria has a simple elegance that seemed much more approachable. (Approach a Christmas decoration — work with me here.)
But the days of the conservatory and parlor were long gone. This was my third residence since moving out of the house. It was already Cockroach Alley. It was considerably smaller, so there was only one skinnier six-foot tree.
To me, Herald didn’t fit.
See, part of the problem was that I hadn’t gotten the garage arranged since we moved. I didn’t know where anything was. I only got the right ornaments because I found the box that said, “Christmas ornaments — start here.”
I had it in my mind how the tree should look. I couldn’t wait to put the lights on and all my pretty ornaments. Gloria would just top it off.
Oh, well. I didn’t find the box with the lights. I couldn’t have plugged them in anyway since there was no accessible, available outlet. That really let Gloria out — even if I could have found her — because you have to plug her into the light strands.
But off-kilter Herald, no Gloria, and no lights wasn’t the problem. I was the problem.
I was off kilter.
My problem was I wasn’t looking forward to Christmas. I wasn’t looking forward to cooking the meal. I wasn’t looking forward to buying the presents. I didn’t think I was fit to be around company — even family company.
Then the first mouse showed up in my stove the day before our Christmas dinner. All I could think of was we were going to have roast mouse with our turkey.
This was all at the tail end of my spiritual tornado. I wasn’t where I had planned to be nor wanted to be.
I was having trouble finding my fit.
I was ready to cancel Christmas. It was in a barren time where, even though I knew God was sustaining me, I was depressed. I was wondering if God hadn’t decided to take a hiatus after all.
I wonder if the Israelites were feeling as unsettled as I was when God did give them the silent treatment.
How Did the Israelites Feel?
“He will lead children and parents to love each other more, so that when I come, I won't bring destruction to the land” (Mal. 4: 6 CEV)
The whole time between the Old Testament and the New Testament, God was silent. Not a word.
It had been a long time since Malachi had quit preaching. Somewhere around four hundred years, in fact.
Malachi’s final message was a mixed bag. He had been preaching about the coming of the Messiah. “‘But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Mal. 4: 2-3 NLT).
Oh, we can get on that bandwagon. We like when someone swoops in and saves the day. That is especially so when we don’t want to get out of bed, don’t want to complete the project at hand, or don’t want to do what we are supposed to do.
And the death to the enemy part? Well, we aren’t as blood thirsty as they were back them, but we like when our enemies get what is coming to them.
But Malachi was also preaching about judgment day. “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed — roots, branches, and all’” (Mal. 4: 1 NLT).
Hmmm. Probably another verse some used to think Israel would get a military Messiah.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Making the Connections
The Israelites had to have been depressed by the end of 400 years of silence. They did believe there was a God.
My Ladies and I were talking this morning that, for all their grumbling, complaining, and disobedience, the Israelites always taught their children about how God had provided for them.
We also mentioned that God finds us where we are. Even if we are depressed and want to cancel Christmas, God is there.
Oh, God may be silent — but He is there with us. He will never leave us (Deut. 31: 8).
Look what they got — the Messiah. The silence was followed by the best gift of all.
The Israelites would have been depressed if they realized Jesus wasn’t the Messiah they were expecting. They could hear the sound of someone swooping in keep going on past them. Don’t we hate it when we get our hopes up about something just to have them dashed?
The Israelites — and we — got the Messiah we needed. We got a Savior that was concerned for our spiritual health, not our physical health. We got a Savior Who will love us for eternity.
How Do We Apply This?
Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time. However, for many it isn’t. They may be going through a major life change and are just having trouble adulting at the moment.
Be there for them. Keep your motor mouth zipped, and listen to them. Well, you can unzip your mouth long enough to ask them a specific thing you can do for them. Don’t just assume you know what they want you to do for them.
People may be going through the silent portion of their walk during the Christmas season. This may mean they are feeling lonely and abandoned by God.
Encourage them. Walk with them. Show them they are not alone. Keep reminding them God will never leave them.
On a side note, some who are experiencing difficulties this Christmas season may be children with special needs. On good days, lights and noise can set them off. Multiply that by the Christmas factor (more lights, more people hence more noise, all the jingle things ringing and singing on every street corner and aisle, short tempers, normally sane people acting insane …). That offers the opportunity for a meltdown.
Herald was off kilter. I was off kilter. You may be off kilter or know someone who is.
God is always with us, and He keeps His promises. He did one night long ago in Bethlehem — after a long silence. He sent His Only Son to die for us so that we may live.
Father. You love us so much. Forgive us when we focus more on us than You. Help us to walk on the straight and narrow path You have devised for us. Help us to shake off any fingers of depression so that we may praise You name. Amen.
What do you think?
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