How are you doing?

Maybe you’re experiencing yet another, COVID-Christmas? Maybe you’re entering into another year of on and off restrictions? We’ve all been watching the constant news cycle reminding us of yet another virus variant, and that the pandemic is far from over.

Some might say, ignore the rules, ignore the news, and pretend it’s not happening. But it is happening, and it’s a burden. Regardless of your position on masking, vaccines or the pandemic as a whole, it’s been long and hard for all of us.

If you lead at home, at work, or in ministry, you’ve been faced with it every day. You’re drained by decision-fatigue living in a world of constant, rapid change. There’s a significant mental, emotional, and spiritual weight that we’ve all been carrying for two years.

We can’t pretend it’s not there.

We need to acknowledge it and place it somewhere.

Now, before you delete Christmas post from your feed, due to the serious lack of jolly and cheer, please allow me to continue. I would ask you to pause and consider a famous Christmas prophecy, pointing to the birth of Jesus, but also providing the encouragement we need this year.

“FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN, TO US A SON IS GIVEN; AND THE GOVERNMENT SHALL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER, AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE.” – ISAIAH 9:6

Isaiah provides us with two very important truths that we should cling to this holiday season:

1. The Christ Child would become our eternal King whose strength and authority far surpass this global crisis and the governing powers who are struggling to guide us through it.

Jesus can carry the load that even the most powerful government could not bear because He “is the head of all rule and authority.” (Colossians 2:10)

“Only through deep devotion to the child who is born to us, the son who is given to us, can we make sure that the government really is upon his shoulders, and so prevent our good intentions being misdirected to serve our own ends, real or imagined.” (Dr. N. T. Wright, “The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulders”, NTWrightPage.com)

This Christmas, may we remember that Christ has the full strength and authority to carry our burdens.

2. The Christ Child would become the eternal Counsellor and Peace-maker within in a world that seems void of both good counsel and sustainable peace.

Jesus has the answers to our toughest questions, “wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom“, (Isaiah 28:29) and He provides calm to our anxiety and frustration because “he himself is our peace.” (Ephesians 2:14)

“Wonderful Counselor; none teaches like him” and “as the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; he is the Giver of peace in the heart and conscience.” (Matthew Henry, Isaiah 9:1-7, Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible)

This Christmas, may we remember that Christ has the wisdom and serenity we need in this moment.

As we end 2021…

May we all consider placing the burden, the decision fatigue, the constant change, and the mental, emotional, and spiritual weight on God’s Son, Jesus.

May we consider making a prayerful choice to lean into Him this Christmas and as the new year approaches. Because wonderful counsel and everlasting peace can be found in Him!

I want to wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a peace-filled New Year!

Pastor Jeremy Norton