Churches Article: God with us in the midst of life, both in the midst of jubilation and in the midst of sorrow

Christmas is almost upon us. Schools are breaking up for the holidays, work Christmas parties, carol services, nativities and Christingles are taking place.

Last minute preparations for celebrating the big day are being earnestly attended to; the presents, the decorations, the Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, preparing for family get-togethers and the list can go on!

This is a time that we mark with festivities, joy, merriment and celebration. Well, as the famous carol is entitled, the birth of Jesus is ‘Joy to the World’.

But what if Christmas is not an easy time of year? What if there isn’t enough money to have the Christmas that you want or is expected? What if you are dreading the family get-togethers? What if things are tough right now and even the thought of painting a fake smile on your face to look the joyful part is really too much? What if all the preparations are just too overwhelming? What if this is a time of year that is brimming with sadness and grief, maybe over hurts of Christmases past or maybe from the loss of loved ones? What if this is going to be a lonely season and the image of others gathering together just reinforces the sense of isolation and loneliness?

The Christmas story is one that doesn’t wrapping paper over all this, it is a story that comes in the midst of this. It is a story that speaks of God embracing creation by becoming part of it, being born into it.

Jesus is born into a hurting world. He was not born in a palace as the wise men expected, but to an ordinarily couple, shunned by their family for the pregnancy commencing outside of wedlock and assigned a place in the house with the animals rather than the people, leaving Jesus to be born in and amongst the mucky location of the animals’ lodgings and laid in their manger.

As a very small child he then has to flee in the night with Mary and Joseph to escape a terrible genocide and live as a refugee for a time in Egypt.

This is God sharing in our struggles and sharing in our humanity.

How is this Joy to the World? Because it speaks of God coming alongside us in the midst of our struggles, to be our companion on the bumpy roads of life.

God does not ignore us, or leave us isolated or demand a fake smile of us.

God knows our pain, and offers companionship, and points us to the hope of eternal life and peace with God.

This is the real Joy to the World, God with us in the midst of life, both in the midst of jubilation and in the midst of sorrow.