Christmas Groans

Amidst all the Christmas movies, light displays, holiday music, gatherings with family and friends, great food, and often the exchange of presents, all of which bring joy to our hearts, there is still much groaning this time of year in our world. I know of one who is mourning the recent loss of her only sister. I know a single father still grieving the death of his wife. Others are in the midst of debilitating illnesses. The people of Ukraine are groaning amidst the suffering of a terrible and unjust war. The people of Somalia are groaning for lack of food. People are groaning from the pressures of economic need. Many young people are groaning out of anxiety and despair.

While we love embracing the joy of this season, I think we all recognize, to one degree or another, that this world is broken, regardless of how happy we may be in any given moment. And this is not a new realization. Human groaning has been going on for millennia. The Israelites groaned under the oppression of Pharoah (Exodus 2:23), the needy groaned for provision (Psalm 12:5), and many Jews groaned for a word from the Lord after 400 years of silence, which is why there was so much joy and exclamation around the birth of Jesus. (Luke 2)

But the groaning didn’t cease after the Lord’s birth. Paul speaks of both the groaning of creation and of the creatures. (II Corinthians 5:4) As the beautiful Christmas hymn, O Holy Night, describes, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining.” Pining, longing for something more. 

Isn’t that true? Even in this festive season, we long, and often groan, for something more. For a world that is in sync—no more hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, draughts, and flooding. For bodies that are impervious to disease and death. For peace among human beings. For a world of justice. In other words, a longing for heaven, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

The Preacher of Ecclesiastes recognizes this tension,

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart. (5:18-20)

If we have reasons to celebrate this holiday season, then we should. Celebration is a gift from the Lord. Yet no celebration this side of heaven will ever satisfy us completely. We will continue to groan and long for something more, which only the Lord can provide in another existence. Until then, we do the best we can, whether it’s celebrating or groaning, or a little bit of both.

This Christmas, whatever state we are in physically, emotionally, and spiritually, may we exclaim those timeless words of a timeless hymn,

Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

© Jim Musser 2022 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.

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