And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.  2 Corinthians 6:18 NASB

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.  2 Corinthians 7:1 NASB

Some of you younger people may not have heard of a Hard Candy Christmas, but Dolly Parton released this song in 1982. It speaks of a disappointing Christmas. The lyrics say, “Lord, it’s like a hard candy Christmas, I’m barely getting through tomorrow, but still I won’t let sorrow bring me way down.”   Sometimes the holidays have a way of bringing us down.

There are all kinds of syndromes these days, I guess they cover just about everything and yes, there actually is a syndrome called Post Holiday Syndrome. We build up to Christmas with all this excitement and we decorate and we buy and wrap presents and we cook and in one day, it’s all over. So, on this day after Christmas and the days following, people tend to feel let down.

Some people are let down on Christmas day because they didn’t get that special gift that they had been hoping for or maybe that person who lives out of town wasn’t able to make it home for the holidays or maybe they are missing a lost loved one.

When we turn Christmas into a magical holiday and expect our lives to work out like all the Hallmark Movies that we watch, we can be let down when this doesn’t happen. But, when we focus on the reason for the season, we will never be disappointed. When our focus is on Jesus, it’s Christmas all year long. Now, I don’t mean that we are receiving gifts from others all year, but we are appreciating the most important gift as we go through the year. We are fully appreciating the gift of salvation that was brought to us by the shedding of the blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We just celebrated the birth of our savior yesterday.  I,f we are saved or celebrating our salvation in Him, then we have growth to look forward to. We can look forward to becoming mature believers in Christ. We are a work in progress being made ready for our completion in Him.

Just yesterday I told my husband that I had decorated our home a week earlier than usual due to the fact that I was going out of town on the weekend that I normally decorate. For this reason, I am eager to take down my decorations. I have thoroughly enjoyed the tree, the stockings, the lights and all the other decorations, but it is time for them to return to their place and my house to return to normal. I look with anticipation on the days ahead knowing that God holds my future in his hands.

When we get wrapped up in the season and not in the reason for the season, it is easy to feel let down if we don’t get exactly what we asked for or once the left overs are put in the fridge and the gifts are all unwrapped.  Amidst the wrapping paper strewn everywhere and the emptiness under the tree, people may feel as though there is sadness at the end of the holiday season or they may have been sad all through the holiday season.

But know that if your hope is in the  Lord, then you have no reason to be sad. Know that if you trust in Him, He will take good care of you. Psalm 42:11says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God”. 1 Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us. Isaiah 41:10 tells us to fear not for He is with us, be not dismayed for He is our God, He will strengthen us, He will help us, He will uphold us with His righteous hand.

Mere mortals may let us down, but God never fails us. He always knows what is best for us because He knows what lies in our future. So, if the holidays have been difficult this year or if you are feeling a little let down as the holiday season draws to a close, know that God’s got this. He will not let you down. Know that you are safe in His mighty hands. Know that He loves you and wants what is best for you. Just trust in Him today. Take His righteous hand and allow Him to hold you up and guide you. I promise if you give it all over to Him, He will give you peace and joy in return.

Have a great day!