The holidays can be a difficult time for so many people. As family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, tensions also rise, conflict prevails, and arguments erupt. It’s also a time when we really see what’s going on… dysfunction that has never gone away, loved ones who are embracing cultural ideologies, opinions that conflict with the Bible, and those we love choosing dead end pathways. It’s also a time of sadness because of the empty seats at the table. After everyone leaves, we’re often left with grief, heartache, pain, loneliness, frustration. So, we try and escape.
We fill our time with projects (cleaning closets, organizing drawers, baking), staying busy, going shopping, watching Christmas movies, calling friends, reading novels, decorating. Somehow, we think these things will numb what’s going on in our hearts and will give us relief from the deep pain. Here’s the thing… these things can take us away temporarily, but they are never the solution permanently. Just like someone who drowns their problems with alcohol… the problems just get bigger and stronger after the alcohol wears off. The same is true of these things as well. I’m not saying any of them are wrong, but if we’re immersing ourselves in them to escape the family drama, we will never find what we’re looking for.
We don’t need to escape. We need ENCOURAGEMENT. Encouragement will give us strength, hope, peace, and joy amid the heartache. Encouragement is sustainable. Encouragement will lift us out of the pit and make our lights for Jesus shine brighter in our hearts and into the hearts of others. And this verse in Romans tells us where to find encouragement: the Word of God and the promises of God (especially the greatest promise of all – the promise of heaven).
This morning, I was reminding myself of what heaven offers: no more pain, no more suffering, no more division, no more conflict, no more dysfunction, no more hurts. In heaven, there will be no more people attacking each other, no more difficult holiday gatherings… AND no more good-byes. And all these things are for eternity. God’s Word and God’s promises offer us what we really need… hope, perspective, peace, and joy. Let me spur you on today to encouragement, not escape.