Yoder: Are You Weary?
By Kathy Yoder
Are you weary this Christmas? Even in weariness, the season whispers hope—a baby born in a manger, bringing light to our darkest days. Another Christmas season is upon us, catching me by surprise. Christmas decorations started popping up long before the pop-up timer in the Thanksgiving Day turkey.
I enjoy going through my Christmas decorations and ornaments, remembering the people, places, and memories tied to each one. Recalling times when happy Christmases were exactly the same as the year before, so easily taken for granted.
They also remind me of Christmases that were not the usual Christmases. But even then, the true story of Christmas—of Emmanuel, God with us—offers a steadfast anchor.
After the loss of a loved one, that first Christmas without them is hard. All the firsts are hard. So are the seconds and the thirds. It gets easier with time, but missing them never quite leaves. As my mom once said, “We never stop missing those we love. We just learn to live without them a little more each day.”
Are you going through loss this year? Do you think of something you want to tell that person and then remember that they’re gone? Do you ache for just 10 more minutes with them? One more hug? One more chance to hear their laugh? Are you weary? Remember, Jesus came to heal broken hearts, promising that no tear goes unnoticed.
Maybe it’s not the first Christmas without them. Maybe it’s the second, the fifth, or the twentieth. It doesn’t matter; there’s still loss. Others may not realize that loss is always loss. But in your mind and your heart, you know. The Lord knows, too—and He entered our world as a vulnerable infant to share in our sorrows.
Some families struggle with a loved one’s illness, without the luxury of planning for the future. They don’t know what the future holds. None of us does, but it’s more real with them in ways the rest of us can’t understand. Are you weary? Yet the angels’ announcement of “good news of great joy” echoes still, reminding us that hope is born even in uncertainty.
Others face setbacks—those who have lost a job, a friendship, a relationship, hope, or even faith. What about those who have no faith? They have nowhere to turn. Is that you? Are you weary? Christmas invites us back to the manger, where faith can be rekindled in the simplicity of our Savior’s birth.
Hearing about another tragedy, another shooting, has become almost commonplace. I pray that I never get used to hearing about such things or say to myself, “Oh, another shooting.” May I never stop praying for those families. It makes me weary, but the star that guided the wise men shines as a beacon of peace in a chaotic world.
I pray that the true meaning of Christmas cuts through all the hoopla of the season. I pray that even though you may feel lonely for the one who is gone, or you’re afraid because of an illness, or you don’t know how you’ll find another job, or you feel alone, or you’re afraid to step outside for fear of what might happen, you’ll still feel the presence of the Lord. He never leaves us—He came to dwell among us.
In times like these, I’m reminded of the Israelites’ story, which mirrors the hope of Christmas. After leading the people of Israel through the wilderness for 40 years, Moses tells them that he will not cross into the Promised Land. He must be weary. The people certainly are. They took the long way around to go not a long distance. It was their stubbornness, pride, constant complaining, and their disobedience to God that caused their wandering. Not so unlike you and me.
But finally, they arrive. Moses challenges them. “Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, his decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways…” (Deuteronomy 30:15-16).
Moses appoints Joshua as leader. He tells Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
Moses dies; Joshua becomes leader. And just as God did at the Red Sea, He parts the waters of the Jordan River and the people cross over to the Promised Land.
It’s easy to become weary with our personal circumstances; especially when we’re going through a personal wilderness. But what was true for Joshua and the Israelites is still true today. If we follow the Lord, He goes ahead of us, preparing the way as He leads us. He walks beside us, encouraging us just as He did by sending His Son on that first Christmas.
The One true God, who sent His son Jesus to be born on earth so we could be saved from our sins—He’s still parting the waters for us. He’s still making a way through the wilderness of this world, a path that leads straight to Him.
So let’s put our faith in the One true God, who is alive and knows our weariness intimately. If we do, we can trade our weariness for rejoicing, celebrating the birth that brings eternal hope through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Kathy Yoder is a Christian author who’s reachable at kathyyoder4@gmail.com.
