In the flurry of this busy season—in the midst of demands, weariness, and even regret—there is quiet, peace, comfort, and restoring relationship waiting for you.
“…the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” — Romans 5:15 (NIV)
This Christmas, I want to offer you a simple invitation:
Enjoy the gift of time.
Be present.
Receive the presence of God’s promise to mankind.
As leaders, we’re primarily trained to manage moments instead of inhabiting them. We move quickly from one responsibility to the next, measuring progress, fixing problems, and preparing for what’s ahead. Even Christmas can feel like something to manage and get through rather than something to savor and dwell in.
But Christmas is not a deadline.
It is a gift.
God Saw This Moment Coming
Long ago, God the Father looked into the future and saw you. And me.
He saw our failures and our successes.
He saw our doubts and our moments of faith.
And He saw this exact Christmas week.
Despite our imperfection, God chose to send the Perfect to us—to rescue us from the prison of guilt and striving and time. He stepped into history so that we might catch glimpses of eternity.
We see those glimpses when:
- our child smiles at us from across the room,
- our spouse gives us an encouraging, knowing look, and
- a quiet moment reminds us we are not alone.
God doesn’t withhold priceless gifts like these when we fail or neglect to seek Him. Nor does He give gifts because we earned them. He blesses us each day in countless ways because He loves us.
The Gift Beneath All Other Gifts
Doubts and misgivings are part of the human condition. Scripture never hides that truth. But it does promise something better:
One day, those who have embraced Jesus as Lord will rise to eternal life because we believe in a risen Savior. That is why Christmas matters.
So this week, consider giving yourself gifts already available to you—gifts that don’t require wrapping:
- the gift of time,
- the gift of presence, and
- the gift of forgiveness.
You may feel like you blew it this year. You may wish you had done more or done things differently.
But God sent His Son to forgive our sin—our greatest problem and deepest malady. And no matter our past or present shortcomings, we are given the indescribable gift of His unceasing presence: Immanuel, God with us.
A God Who Makes Room to Be With Us
I’m convinced God created time so we could linger in His presence. He created space so we could see His creation. And He sent His Son so we could have reconciliation, conversation, and relationship with Him.
Jesus came not as a conquering king but as a humble child—so that we might know:
- He shows strength through weakness.
- He gives comfort to the weary and brokenhearted.
- He loves those who feel unlovable.
These unfathomable gifts are offered to us in Jesus. All that is required of us is to receive Him and the treasures He provides.
You Can Only Receive What You’re Willing to Accept
In nearly thirty years of working with people suffering through addiction, homelessness, and deeply difficult circumstances, I’ve learned a simple truth:
I can only serve those who want to be served.
And I can only help those willing to accept help.
The same is true spiritually.
Psalm 23 teaches that “surely [God’s] goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” God pursues us each day with gifts of goodness, mercy, joy, and grace. But His love must be received to be experienced.
A Christmas Pause
This Christmas, I encourage you to pause. Take time to receive what God has prepared for you:
Receive the gift of His Son.
Receive grace in place of judgment.
Receive presence in place of pressure.
Receive forgiveness in place of regret.
God has already done the work. All that remains is to receive it.