Finding Jesus when we are sad — Faith

Merry Christmas, everyone! If you have been following along, you know I have been doing a series on embracing the emotion of sadness during the holidays as it pertains to our life in Christ. In Part 1, we looked at why it is okay to be sad, that God is the author of emotions, and tips for maneuvering grief during the holidays. In Part 2, we looked back at God’s faithfulness and how that pertains to dealing with sadness, and mulled over why remembering His faithfulness is like a wall of defense for our minds.

Today we are going to go directly to the Christmas story and look at what we can learn from the Shepherds and how that enables us to have joy, even in the midst of heartache and grief.

“8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”
16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

— Luke 2:8-20 (NASB 1995)

Shepherding was a vital industry all throughout the Old Testament with numerous “big names” in Biblical history doing this difficult, outdoor, sometimes life threatening job. Abel, Abraham, Issac, Moses and David were all shepherds. Though the socioeconomic status of a shepherd had declined by the time of Jesus’ birth, the commitment of shepherds to care for their flocks still stood strong. They regularly faced predators that included wolves, lions, bears, hyenas, and leopards. They walked many miles to find feeding areas, as well as water. Shepherds were always vigilant. Even after the sheep were led into the fold for the night, a shepherd would place his body across the doorway to keep out unwanted predators. Apparently there were occasions where shepherds would mix their herds together for the evening to split the guarding shifts. In the morning they were easily able to sort the sheep by the sound of each shepherd’s voice.

It might be, on the night the angel came to these shepherds that was the case. Perhaps four or five shepherds had come together, and while a few of them slept the others kept watch over the sheep. I am pretty sure they were all wide awake when that angel showed up!

There are many things we can learn from the shepherds that can help us in our season of sadness around the holidays. Let’s take a look.

1 - Shepherds were living life. These shepherds were doing their work. They were guarding their sheep: leading, guiding, feeding, watching, giving aid, tending to wounds, and certainly searching for any lambs that may have wandered away. Any one of those shepherds or shepherdesses (yes, women were shepherds too…talk about bad a**) could have been feeling sad. They could have been grieving the loss of a family member, the loss of a sheep (they were required to pay for any sheep lost or killed); they could have been struggling with illness, or blisters on their feet, or maybe they were discouraged because they really wanted to be a singer in the temple choir, but here they are tending sheep.

When we are dealing with sadness or grief, one of the best things to do, is keep living life. Go to work, meet with friends, get groceries, work on a closet, clean a bathroom; even the most mundane tasks that contribute to living life help us to process and get through. Listen to this quick snippet that reminds us why even making the bed can help.

2. Shepherds were brave and intelligent. Frankly I find it fascinating that shepherds were not seen as super heroes. I mean, beating off wolves, bears, an occasional lion or two had to be a tough job. These people were not weak, nor were they soft. They were weathered, strong, and probably wiry. They also had to have job intelligence, meaning they knew where to go to feed the sheep, where to find water, which in itself was a challenge in an arid climate. Sheep being what they are don’t like to drink from moving water, as it spooks them. They needed still water that wasn’t tainted with bacteria or other things that would make the sheep sick.

If you are working through a time of grief, learn what works for you to not only process that grief, but also the things that help you to continue living life. That will look different for every person. I personally like the “grief blanket” idea. I can allow myself to feel sadness for a time, and then get up and do other things. Maybe for you dealing with sadness is easier when you keep busy while also allowing your mind to remember why you are sad. Know what things will cause you to give in to the sickness of despair and depression, and find “safe water” to drink - like the water of God’s truth in His word.

3 - The shepherds were curious. After they got over the initial shock of seeing angelic beings, the shepherds high tailed it for Bethlehem to see the child of which they were told. In your sadness, be curious. Ask God what He wants you to learn about His character, yourself, or someone else. Be curious about Biblical accounts of people who dealt with grief and sadness. Read about Sarah, Hannah, Naomi, David, Nehemiah, Job (read the whole book to not only understand his grief, but know better the God who deals, reveals and restores,) and even Jesus as he is moved with compassion, and yes grief in the Gospel accounts.

4 - The shepherds were humble. I will acknowledge I am making an assumption about the shepherds’ humility. However, seeing the type of job they had and the lifestyle they lived I do not think they were the type of people who would put on airs and act as though they knew everything or had it all together. They really strike me as just regular, hard working people, that maybe were a bit smelly. Ha, ha. But they were real. The thing I love about this Biblical account is their unbridled enthusiasm. Why does that make them humble? Because they didn’t care about what people would think, they didn’t care that they were the best dressed, or clean, or had lots of money. They just wanted Jesus, and isn’t wanting Jesus all about humility?

Wanting the true Jesus of the Bible is about choosing to give up ourselves: our preconceived ideas, our knowledge base, our education, our upbringing, our trauma, our grief, our discouragement, our wealth, our status, our identity, and letting it all go to embrace the baby in the manger - the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

— Isaiah 9:6 (NASB 1995)

If you are following along this December, I am doing a short series on the emotion of sadness during the holidays. Holidays for many are not the bright, merry celebrations we tend to hear about. Instead, they are filled with pain, hurt, anger, sadness and despair. The reasons are many, from the death of a spouse or child, to divorce, to the loss of a job or health, to the state of our country. Many people are struggling with feeling depressed and overwhelmed.

The reason I decided to broach this topic was in part to share what I have learned about carrying sadness on a regular basis, but still being able to function and live a full and productive life. Sadness isn’t something that we necessarily need to be free of, but rather something we need to embrace and learn how to accept and manage.

Last week we looked at what embracing sadness looks like and explored a few thoughts on how we can manage our own sadness, or how we can help others who are feeling more down than usual at this time of year. Tips included: having a grieving blanket, physical activity, artistic pursuits, and allowing others to help carry the burden. Another suggestion was to remember the faithfulness of God, and that is what we are going to look at this week.

The Old and New Testaments of the Bible are full of examples of God’s faithfulness. If we are in a particular dark state of mind we might read some of the Biblical accounts and only see God’s wrath, judgment and impatience, but as with all things if we look only for the darkness, we will only encounter darkness. True freedom lies in following and embracing the light of Christ.

“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)
16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; God the only Son, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

— John 1:1-18 (ESV)

God provides everything that we need to live life in this dark world, but the most important thing He provided was the Light, the life of His Son Jesus Christ. Try to imagine living in a world with no light. How would you be able to live life? There is the rather comedic aspect of running into walls, crashing into cars, and stepping on Legos in the living room, but it goes much deeper than that. Light is essential for plants to grow, which in turn produce oxygen, which gives us the ability to breath. Light is essential for our mental health. Take it from a sufferer of Seasonal Affective Disorder, sunlight is absolutely necessary for me to feel human. Light is also an important element in the deterrence of crime, otherwise, why would so many business owners leave lights on around their property?

Probably the most important aspect to light is that it lets us see. There is the physical aspect of sight which keeps us from running into things and helps us to recognize things and people. It also allows us to learn and study. Similarly, spiritual sight, given to us through the Holy Spirit, allows us to know God and His Word better. Abiding in the light enables to turn from the darkness and recognize God’s constant faithfulness.

““The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.”

— Deuteronomy 32:4 (NASB 1995)

“Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.”

— Psalm 36:5 (NASB 1995)

“He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.”

— Psalm 91:4 (NASB 1995)

I find this last verse interesting. “His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.” We all know what a shield is, but what is a bulwark? Websters online dictionary defines bulwark as: a solid wall-like structure raised for defense; a seawall; a strong support or protection. If God’s faithfulness is a shield and bulwark, then that means His faithfulness is supporting and protecting us. Might it also mean, that when we choose to remember His faithfulness, it helps protect our minds from spending too much time in the darkness? Perhaps recalling God’s faithfulness is the best way to protect ourselves from the unbridled pain and despair we can feel when we are grieving.

In other versions of the Bible instead of the word, bulwark, or rampart the word is buckler. A buckler is a small shield and to my understanding it was a shield that was used during hand to hand combat. It was a shield that was held close to the body, and could also be maneuvered to block the enemy’s strikes. Whether you like the idea of a strong wall of defense or a small shield used in daily battle with the enemy, the reality is both are true. God is our defense, and His faithfulness allows us to extinguish the flaming arrows of despair, bitterness and hatred that Satan sends our way.

As I said in my first post, sadness is an emotion God gave us and by embracing it we allow ourselves to process those strong feelings in a healthy way, but if we allow ourselves to only see the sadness, and not remember the joy, or the laughter, we risk becoming shrouded in a darkness that might lead to a place of no return.

So, how do we remember God’s faithfulness when we are feeling overwhelmed by the sad? Let’s look at a few ideas.

1 - Pray. Ask God to help you to remember His faithfulness. Perhaps you prayed for something specific and that prayer was answered. Maybe you needed direction regarding a decision and He gave it to you. Remember God is not just faithful in the big things, He’s also faithful in the tiny details. Ask Him to help you remember those times and write those things down.

I did this recently, and God brought to my mind His faithfulness to me as a child. Growing up in a Bible believing church, I was fortunate to be surrounded by Biblical teaching, but hearing God’s word, does not necessarily mean we will follow Him. When I was very young, perhaps in kindergarten or 1st grade I had a Sunday School teacher named Miss Draper. An older, single woman, she was all vim and vinegar, but she genuinely cared about her students. I remember she took a trip to Europe. When she came back she had gifts for each of the children in her class. When I opened mine it was a little chalet of sorts. The roof opened and from within came the most beautiful music. Her gesture of kindness set me on a road of wanting to know Jesus. Oh what the love of a person living in obedience to Christ can do to change the world.

2 - Read Scripture. I know these suggestions are not anything new, but how much more we need to be seeking our precious Lord, when we are in the throes of sadness and heartbreak. Scripture is full of examples of God’s faithfulness. Think of His provision for Adam and Eve’s nakedness after the fall (Genesis 3:21); or what about His faithfulness to Noah and His family during a catastrophic, world wide flood (Genesis 7:23); and don’t forget the restoration He gave to Job after allowing Satan to take everything away (Job 42:10-17); and one of my favorite accounts of His lovingkindness was to Ruth, a woman not even a Jew, given a place in the lineage of Jesus our King of Kings (Ruth 4). Start to finish, the Bible is a ribbon of God’s faithfulness, provision, love and intervention on the behalf of humanity, the greatest of these being Christ’s entry into our world as a baby.

3 - Look for God’s faithfulness and provision in the day to day. All may seem bleak until we start exercising the eyes of our hearts. Our physical eyes might only see the darkness; the pain, the despair, the unknown, but our spiritual eyes can see things beyond this physical world.

“15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

— Ephesians 1:15-23 (NASB 1995)

Paul’s prayer pertains to us when we are grieving. He prays that we would see with the eyes of our hearts so that: we would know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Look and see.

4 - Treasure thanksgiving. Having just celebrated Thanksgiving a few weeks ago here in the U.S. it is good to take this idea into the Christmas holidays, especially when we are sad. Giving thanks is not only a mood lifter, but it forces us to refocus our mind from the darkness to the light. Start small if that is all you can manage. Thank God for a warm bed, a hot shower, food, clean water, and a place to live. Even if all of these were striped away from us, we could still be thankful for Him; for His presence; for His character; for the fact that He does not change. Is it always easy to give thanks? No. But it is desired by our Creator.

“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB 1995)

I hope this week you will find many moments to remember God’s faithfulness.

Embracing Sadness and Finding Joy: A Study of Our Life in Christ During the Holidays - Part 3: Bending our Knees Like the Shepherds

Embracing Sadness and Finding Joy: A Study of our Life in Jesus during the Holidays - Part 2: Remembering God's Faithfulness