Some people are strongly affected by the “Christmas Blues.” Minor problems seem to grow in magnitude during this season which should be devoted to 'glad tidings and joyfulness.
It seems we've all have some problems from time to time. I'm not talking about trivial things like; what should you buy Aunt Alice for Christmas or which new game your Grandson wants?
Everyone, even God's chosen people experience problems. Many of the main biblical characters faced serious problems. Some overcame their problems – some didn't.
In the NIV, ISV, and ERV versions of the Bible, the word 'problem' word shows several times. Though the KJV Bible doesn’t use the word 'problem', we often find similar words or phrases, such as what aileth you, brokenhearted, despaired, discouraged, miserable, sorrows, and troubles, among others.
From Genesis to Revelation there are a number of narratives about godly, influential men and women of faith, who struggled and battled through dark times, troubles, and problems.
It would be fair to say that oftentimes the source of those difficulties was from our own evil desires. (James 1:14) Or can we assign our problems to the works and influences of Satan.
Eve's problem was she was too easily deceived and Adam problem was he didn't exercise the necessary strength of character to be responsible as the head of the family.
Cain was afflicted with such a monumental jealousy that he murdered his brother.
Noah, at one time, the last righteous man on earth became a drunkard and exposed his nudity.
Job, the epitome of faith in the midst of troubles and sorrows, suffered from a nagging, faithless wife who wanted him to curse God. (Job 2:9)
Eli, the ruler over Israel, was a hopelessly incompetent father who lost his sons to immorality – so the Lord decided to kill them. (1 Samuel 2)
Then we learn that Saul, the first and powerful king of Israel, was apparently a psychotic with explosions of anger, suffered deep depressions and paranoia to the extent that he committed suicide. (1 Samuel 16, 18, 19, 31)
King David, conspired in his adultery by directing the murder of Uriah the husband of Bathsheba. (2 Samuel 11)
Even the children of today know of Jonah's problems. When Jonah ignored God's plan by sailing off in a different direction, this rebellious act caused him to be swallowed up by a great fish and to be vomited up, three days later. After all that trouble, he still had to walk 500 miles to deliver God's message to the transgressors and wrongdoers in Nineveh.
Sometimes, even the very will of God seems to be problematic. The Lord’s first message to Hosea was “Go, marry a prostitute who has had children as a result of her prostitution. Do this because the people in this country have acted like prostitutes—they have been unfaithful to the Lord.” Hosea was instructed to marry her according to God's Divine appointment. (Hosea 1:2)
Whole families have brought problems on themselves by living contrary to God's Word. Consider Abraham, Sara, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac. Sarah thought Abraham could fulfill God's promise of a first born son by subterfuge.
So, by Abraham, the slave woman Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. “And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him . .” ( Genesis 16:11-12)
After Abraham's wife Sara gave birth to Isaac, her jealousy drove Hagar and her son away. Later, God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Wow! We can see the problems there.
Then, as an adult, Isaac himself fought against God’s will. His wife, the captivating Rebekah, knew God’s promise was that her son would be blessed, yet she devised a scheme to trick Isaac. Jacob was talked into being an ally in this transgression. (Genesis 25:28; 27:6-10) Because Jacob went to his blind Father lying and pretending to be Esau, he became a sinful deceiver with the full cooperation of his mother. (Genesis 27:12,19) Rebekah tried to get what she wanted in an imperfect, corrupt way.
Esau was guilty of bartering away his birthright and wanting to slay his brother. Esau was angry to the extent of wanting to commit murder. (Genesis 27:41)
Both Abraham and Isaac had problems because both lied by saying that their wife was their sister. We never learned if either Abraham nor Isaac recognized the gravity of their sin and fully repented of it.
Every member of that dysfunctional family had problems, each doing something wrong! But God was implementing His wondrous plans and all things were, and are, to be done His way.
We should all beware of the consequences of trying to circumvent God's will.
Many of us struggle with our own stubbornness, sin, and our everyday problems. But really, aren't our problems, our struggles, small and trivial compared to those of the Old Testament times?
Even Isaiah prophesied that Christ would be "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." (Isaiah 53:3)
Jesus, Himself, suffered unquestionable sorrowfulness on His way to the cross. In the garden, through the night, Jesus prayed, all alone, calling out to His Father, asking Him for another way: “And He said to them(disciples), 'My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.' And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, 'Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.'" (Mark 14:34-36)
He knew full well what was to come. Christ knew that God had dispatched him on a journey that would embrace great suffering. He knew his life must be forfeited to absolve sin from all faithful Christians. Our Savior was willing to pay the ultimate price on our behalf.
The Bible says that so great was his anguish, that he sweat “drops of blood.” (Luke 22:44) He knew, before we were born, what our greatest times of despair would entail. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3) Because of His suffering, we are assured that Jesus understands our wounds and our troubles.
We need to remember the completeness of God's freely given grace. Mankind's greatest hope is our Savior who understands our pain, who knows about every problem, every hurt! Jesus reaches out to us with loving compassion. We should be joyful in all things. We should not let our problems overwhelm us or drive us into a state of depression. As Christians, we know the Lord offers better solutions.
But depression, stemming from real or perceived problems, increases in December and usually peaks in January. Depression is the cause of over two-thirds of suicides each year. Depression has been a significant factor in several mass shootings. Depression is oftentimes treatable. Doctors usually prescribe medications and counseling.
Are Christmas depressions, the Christmas Blues, affecting you? Possibly you feel your own problems are more situational than seasonal? Bad timing, bad circumstances, undependable friends or relatives.
Maybe you perceive that one of your best friends is gossiping about you? Maybe you do not like where you are in life? Maybe you feel isolated, totally alone? Has your spouse gone on to Glory? Is it just you against the world? Worry not, Jesus is with you!
Have you ever felt like saying “My life is over?” “Where did it go?” Do you think you've already lived the best years of your life? Why do we have such negative thoughts? Heaven awaits us.
But what can you do to change your feelings? Where do you turn? First, we must acknowledge who is really the enemy. Yes, acknowledge evil but do not submit to its grasp. Recognize that sin and evilness are the root sources of our problems, trials, and tribulations.
Who do you think is placing those negative thoughts in your head? Who wants to influence your thinking to remove Christ's love from your hearts? It's the Devil, to be damned, and his horde of demons, that's who!
We don’t ordinarily see Satan but he can be here. He can be there. 1 Peter tells us in chapter 5, verse 8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Thus, we should resist Lucifer by being firm and taking God at His Word. We must know the ways and wiles of our common enemy. These are things I share so we all can have victory over discouragement from life's problems or any other spiritual battle we encounter.
Once we stop to think about it, we know how Satan works. His lies entice us to temptation. Temptations lead to problems, problems lead to depression. Satan tries to delude and victimize us through those vicious lies or subtle attractions.
Lucifer is always lying, always making sin seem more enticing or trying to deepen our sorrows. The whispered lies and temptations of the Devil and his minions are often the central core of our problems with ourselves and those around us. Satan is the father of lies. (John 8:44 )
However, if you are Biblically vaccinated against Satan, you prevent the power of evil to contaminate you. God's Holy Word is all the truth serum we'll ever need.”
When problems seem to come out of nowhere, what do we do? We are told to “take up the shield of faith.” To be sure, we should always help friends in times of need, but embracing the shield of God, putting on the full armor of God is something we each must do individually. We cannot afford to be passive in any spiritual battle. James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” And Brothers and sisters, we must resist every hour, every moment of the day.
When the Devil attacks you, his intent is to lead you astray, trouble you, depress you or confuse you. Satan always works against God to keep humanity from understanding the peace found within the strength and truth of Christ. We are in a war with Satan and he is doing everything he can to deceive us.
Think of 1 Corinthians chapter 10:13, so you can bring it to mind as needed: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. When you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Jesus spoke only the truth. Truths that are as viable today as they were back then. Jesus knows of our good days and dark days. He reaches down to our deepest pits of torment and suffering and can lift them away from our pain-filled bodies. Jesus truly cares.
He offers mercy. He brings hope. He clears thorns from our paths to our victory in His name.
What Christ told us then, is still valid today! You have to know, understand, and practice God's Word before His deliverance can free you from everyday problems. We are told to; “Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in due time: Cast all your cares upon him; for he cares for you.
Anytime you or a friend feel self-doubt, troubles, or unworthiness, know God's love. Peace of mind can be enveloped in God's loving embrace. Take your concerns, cares, troubles, and problems to the Lord in Prayer!
You should share the joyfulness of Christmas. Share the Good News of our redeeming savior! Share your Christian love with everyone you meet now, and in every season of the year.
In conclusion, I ask you to remember – 1 Peter 5:6-1; But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, makes you perfect, establish, strengthen, (and) settles you. To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
