The Weary Rejoice
It is hard to believe that Christmas is just a couple days away. Many of us are filled with the excitement of the season, seeing the lights, spending time with loved ones, and generally there is just a sense of cheer in the air. However, this time is also full of bustling and trying to remember if we have everything we need for dinner, last minute gifts, ensuring travel plans go as smooth as possible. For some, this Christmas is the first year with a new spouse or child; while for others it is the first without certain loved ones. While this time is full of cheer, it is also a season of weariness.
This year, the song that is most often in my head is “ O Holy Night” and I am sure that you have heard it played a hundred times already. However, there is one specific line that stands out to me. “A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;” It seems difficult to fathom that the weary are rejoicing. These two concepts are the exact opposite so how do they manage to work together?
For a born again believer, the idea of rejoicing is simple. We have a great delight during this time because our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was born. His birth was the beginning steps to God’s plan to bring redemption to sinful man. We rejoice because we know that through His miraculous birth, His perfect life, and His resurrection after death we are reconciled to God the Father! There is no better reason than to rejoice for this! “9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood near them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9-11. We rejoice because we know that God has always had a plan for salvation and this time of year is when we get to celebrate it.
But rejoicing is only part of the concept. How do those who are weary, who are burdened, who are facing challenges this time of year fit in? This is an area that believers and non-believers alike can struggle in, but the answer is the same for both. “28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. For those who are feeling tired and worn out this Christmas, they can find comfort in the same way as those who are rejoicing. The answer is Jesus Christ, He is after all the real reason for the season. Anyone who finds themselves feeling weary can find rest and rejoice if they simply accept and lean on Jesus Christ. He gives us our rest, not just physical rest but rest in our souls. While our challenges may still be present, we no longer need to do it on our own.
So this season, I hope that you are able to find the reason to rejoice. I hope that you are not burdened and instead find rest in Jesus Christ. For the born again believers this means to cast our problems onto Him. Jesus is more than capable to handle whatever is going on. For the non-believer this means to accept Jesus’s free gift of salvation, recognize that you cannot earn salvation. When you do this, That burden in your soul will be lifted because you will belong to God’s family. Jesus’s burden is light, it is not like the burdens of this world that seek to drag you down. Jesus loves you and wants a relationship with you, all you need to do is accept Him.
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex