Just Give Me Jesus

“What do you want for Christmas?” my husband asked in preparation for his quick Christmas shopping trip.

“Nothing you can buy,” I answered.

He stopped at the door, his hand resting on the knob. He watched me as I tried to explain.

It has been a long, hard year. Besides the emotional expenditure of situations I can’t control, I need to do daily life: workfull-time, attend school part-time, and care for the needs of a family including a child with a chronic illness.

I am still adjusting to when I might have a few moments for Bible study. My go-to time of awakening at 5 am is not always a given as I often sleep a little later to compensate for the mid-night awakenings. Sometimes I study at night, when I don’t drop into bed exhausted.

What do I want for Christmas?

Nothing that can be commissioned. Nothing that can be hand-crafted. Nothing that can be baked or bought, or brought.

I really truly want time to sit at home, enjoy Bible study near my fireplace, with a cup of hot tea in my hand, without deep cares on my heart.

I’d like to not run to a doctor’s appointment, or the pharmacy, or call the insurance company once more.

I’d like some snuggles with my girls.

I’d like some sweet minutes cuddling with our dog.

And more than anything, I want to bask in the presence of Jesus.

I want to focus on His eternal Truth. I want to momentarily ignore my chaotic concerns for today, leaving them all to rest on Him.

I want to focus on His truths: He provides for every need, He walks with me through everything, and He is constantly in control, especially when I am not.

I want to halt the harried thoughts and focus on His Peace, that peace which passes understanding, and relish that no matter all my days haven’t been Norman Rockwell merry, I still have the most important thing: Jesus.

I so look forward to Christmas, even though I must force my thoughts to focus on the true meaning and joy of the season.

It’s been a hard year. Seasons of life can be devastatingly difficult sometimes. I bet you can relate. Maybe you too find it hard to be joy-filled when your heart is breaking.

But joy is a choice. Happiness is a temporary state, but joy is a choice we make every day. A choice that stands in the face of difficult circumstances, a choice we can enact through Christ.

I don’t know the burdens weighing on your heart this Christmas. But I do know the One who wants to lighten your load. He has lightened mine. He has not always taken it from me, as I have requested so many times, but He never leaves nor forsakes me. He is right there, carrying it beside me, whispering encouragement every step of the way.

He holds my tears as I cry and comforts my soul as I call out for His intervention.

If this Christmas finds your heart in such a place, please remember with me, this, this is why He came. The joy of this season is not to be circumstantial, but a deep knowing, a peace, that no matter what, He is here. He chose to come, to save us from an eternal condemnation and a difficult daily existence. He wants to carry us through each and every moment of each and every day.

He loves me. He loves you. He wants us to be reunited with the Father, and He wants to help us today.

Maybe like me, you want life to slow down, and you just want to spend time with Him. He wants that too. Won’t you join me in praying for that special time, and wondrous peace that comes with spending time with Jesus?

Lord, Thank You that You want to help me through the day, every day. Thank You that You will provide for all my needs, even the needs to accomplish what must happen today, and to find time and energy to sit at Your feet. Please help me to experience the joy of You, no matter what is happening around me. Thank You, Lord, that all I truly need is You. What I want is just Jesus. Please help me to find Him.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.