My family had recently moved to a new state, and months later, everything still felt different. As I tried preparing for Christmas, I struggled adapting to a new climate and new home where none of my decorations fit quite the way they had years past. I made a million trips to Target, constantly adding to the “stuff” of the season and feeling relentlessly pressured to get it all right. All I could think about was how much I had loved the holidays as a kid, but now as an adult, there was no joy to be found.
Years later, the holiday season can still become a source of burden if there isn’t a deliberate effort to say “no” when necessary. While God is always with us and always sovereign, we can manage our response to the chaos by remembering a couple fundamental truths: God cares for our hearts, and he cares for our heart’s affection.
Paul instructs, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver,” (2 Corinthians 9:7). When we give money, purchase gifts or commit to serving opportunities to the point of frustration and resentment, we’ve gone too far. God isn’t honored when we serve out of obligation.
At the same time, certain seasons of life can be exceptionally exhausting because of reasons outside our control. But even here, we can bring our limitations to the Lord, for he is present and purposeful in all things. We can pray for time, for wisdom in managing circumstances, and most humbling, for our heart posture to be pure. We’re reminded in the book of Colossians, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” (Colossians 3:23).
But in addition to our attitudes and heart posture, God also cares about our heart’s affection. There is one God, and He calls us to love him.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might,” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
Of all the things God could prioritize, he calls us to love him. Not just “first”, not just “most”, but with all. In everything we do, we are called to delight in him, to enjoy him, to freely cast all our energy and attention on him. And when we do, we won’t be left with nothing, we won’t be left with less. We’ll be left with him, and we’ll have everything.
In the book of Mark, when the scribe asks Jesus the most important commandment, Jesus responds by linking the greatest two. First, love God. Second, love your neighbor [1]. The scribe responds wisely:
“You are right, Teacher… to love him with all… is much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices,” (Mark 12:33).
Holiday season or not, when our service to God supersedes our love for him, we need to recalibrate. We need to repent, to come before the throne of grace and know we will be freely received. Gently corrected. Tightly embraced. We’ll be reminded that we don’t have to do all the things on our own, because what matters most has already been done.
Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly gives us reminders of his own heart, his own affection. Maybe Paul sums it up best in his letter to the Romans: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?… Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:32, 35).
God’s heart is to willingly give us his son, because his affection for us is so great. His love, for us to be his child, a part of his family. Not to collect us as an indebted slave to forever prove our gratitude, but to grant us position as a co-heir of the King. We are secure in him.
If I could go back and befriend that mama, that version of myself just a few years ago, I’d bring her a double supply of white peppermint mocha creamer and remind her – you can let go of the striving. You can let go of the pressure and expectations, and run into the unwavering arms of your Father who already dearly loves you. Delight in him, commune with him, and pour your heart into whatever he’s called you to, knowing that he is with you always. He is the only true source of joy.
[1] Mark 12:28-31
Study: Spend some time in these verses, checking different translations and reading context. Ask God to open your ears to hear what he is saying.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. – Colossians 3:23 NLT
Each man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives because he wants to give. – 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLV
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith… – Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Worship: I think two of the best ways to stir our love for the Lord is by singing and using our gifts. Turn up some Christmas music, belt out some worship songs, and let your heart be reminded of this Forever King.
And worship through action. If you love writing, write. If music, create music. If art, create art. If dancing, dance. If teaching, teach. If leading, lead. If serving, serve. Use your gifts as an act of worship, in whatever capacity you can for this season of life. Create a dance with your kids, teach a co-worker something you’ve learned over a lunch date, sing a solo while you drive… Pray for your heart, pray for discernment, pray for opportunity. We have a God who listens and a God who responds.
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” – Romans 12:6-8 NLT
Related: Innocent Distractions
How do we keep priorities straight when life is so busy?
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