The Light Of Christmas For Your Dark Days

THE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS FOR YOUR DARK DAYS

One of my favorite times at Christmas is the lights. It all starts around November in the stores. It seems that every weekend more and more lights go up.

It is interesting… December 21st is the Winter Solstice - the longest night of the year.

During this season - the darkest part of the year - Christmas pierces the darkness with light.

Lights were important in the very first Christmas. The angels did their dazzling light show in the sky. The shepherds went to Bethlehem as a result.

The wise men followed another star which brought them to the baby Jesus.

I don’t know if you know it or not, but light is a major theme in the Bible.

I Jn 1:5

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (NKJ)

The very first commandment God gave at creation was “Let there be light…”

Jesus said, “I’m the light of the world…

In fact… this is the very reason for Christmas.

John 12:46

46 I have come as a Light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer wander in the darkness. (TLB)

He is not talking about physical darkness here but personal darkness.

EVERYBODY HAS DARK DAYS!

Tonight I want to look for just a minutes at “The Light Of Christmas For Your Dark Days”

I specifically want to look at four types of dark days and how Christmas is the response to that through the life of Jesus.

1. DARK DAYS OF DISSAPPOINT

2. DARK DAYS OF DISTRESS

3. DARK DAYS OF DOUBT

4. DARK DAYS OF DEPRESSION

Probably each of us can relate to at least one of these days.

1. DARK DAYS OF DISSAPPOINT

Job 30:26 - “I hoped for happiness and light, but trouble and darkness came instead.” (Para)

Have you ever felt that way? You hope for one thing but disappointment and trouble come our way.

Look at the disappointing news that we’ve heard lately…

The economy is going down

The unemployment rate is going up

etc.…

The fact is… life doesn’t always work out as planned. Situations don’t always work themselves out.

Some of you will open a Christmas present tonight or tomorrow and it won’t be what you’ve been hinting around for. You are in for some big disappointments.

I imagine Mary experienced disappointment at the very first Christmas. She was told - “You are going to be the mother of the Messiah, the Son of God.” She then gives birth to Him in a stable! I think that would have been disappointing.

Life is disappointing at times! We go through dark days of disappointment.

2. DARK DAYS OF DISTRESS

This is when we feel overwhelmed, stretched out, stressed to the limit.

You have to much to do - not enough time or energy. More bills than money.

I think Mary felt stress at this first Christmas. She was nine months pregnant. She was away from family. She had to ride a donkey from Nazareth to Bethlehem - nine months pregnant.

Her first baby - by herself, alone in a stable.

Scrip ??? “I cried out desperately for help but it still does not come…”

Have you ever felt that way? You are crying out for help but nobody helps you.

These can be dark days of distress - when you’re stretched out to the limit.

You might be distressed about a lot of things tonight - finances, family, work, physically, etc.

3. DARK DAYS OF DOUBT

John 12:35

35 … he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. (NKJ)

He’s drifting. He doesn’t know where he is going. He has no objectives.

Do you ever feel like this? You have lost your way and you don’t know what to do.

When you look at your past your get disappointments. When you look at your present you get stressed. When you look at your future you get doubtful. You get worried.

There are plenty reasons why you might have doubt and uncertainty about the future… The economy / my job/ etc.

Dark days of doubt. We all go through them. What is my future going to be like?

4. DARK DAYS OF DEPRESSION

It is at this point you ask yourself the question - ‘What’s the use?” You feel like giving up.

World War II. Winston Churchill said, “The light has gone out in Europe.” Some of you may feel that way tonight. The light has gone out of your life.

Lam 3:19-20 - “The thought of my pain is bitter poison. I think of it constantly and my spirit is depressed.”