We all get excited for the holidays. If our expectations are too high, we
are let down with a jolt. The result can be the old holiday blues.
So what is the problem? We look for joy in all the wrong places. We
look for holiday joy in the glitter of lights, in beautifully wrapped
packages, and in all of the material things of the season. We also
expect family reunions to be ultra spectacular. We especially expect
this time of year to transform other relationships into Cinderella
experiences. Then comes the crash when our expectations are not met.
Our traditional home cannot live up to the glitter on TV. Those other
family members turn out to be real people, just as we are. The fantasy
bubble bursts in our faces! Amazingly enough, the Bible warns us in
advance: "Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done
and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and a
striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun" (Ecclesiastes
2:11).
Yes, without God, all our expectations, all our striving, and all our
relationships, are empty. When we look back, it seems as though we have
been striving after the wind. This holiday season can wind up the same
way if you have unrealistic expectations.
So, get some perspective! Remember that we celebrate the birth of Jesus
at this time of year. He is God in human form and He is calling you to
believe in Him? Without Him, this season has no meaning. It is merely
glitter and hype, which turns out to be "vanity and a striving after
wind." To avoid the holiday blues this season, turn away from the
glitter and hype. Turn to Jesus Christ!
