Christmas doesn’t always feel like Christmas. For some, it’s joy and laughter. For others, it’s exhaustion, loneliness, or loss. The lights may be bright, but the heart feels dim. Yet one of the greatest gifts of the cross—and of Christmas itself—is that God has anchored our reality in something deeper than emotion.
When the angel told Joseph that Mary’s child would be called Immanuel—“God with us”—it wasn’t a promise that we would always feel His presence. It was a declaration that He is present, even when our hearts are numb. The birth of Christ fixed a new reality, one that exists independently of our fluctuating feelings.
When Feelings Try to Rule Christmas
In our culture, feelings have become the final authority—the new north star. They define truth, identity, and even morality. But Christmas tells another story. God didn’t wait for humanity to feel ready for redemption. He acted in love when we were lost, indifferent, or afraid.
That’s why the angel’s first words were “Fear not.” The good news of great joy didn’t depend on how the shepherds felt—it depended on what God was doing. And that’s still true for us.
We don’t celebrate Christmas because our hearts are perfectly tuned to joy. We celebrate because truth invaded time. The Word became flesh. The Savior arrived.
The Cross Fixes Reality
The manger points to the cross, and the cross anchors our confidence:
- We are loved by God.
- We are adopted into His family.
- We are filled with His Spirit.
These truths are not seasonal. They are fixed, objective, and eternal. Even when I feel empty, God is full toward me. Even when I feel forgotten, He has drawn near. My relationship with Him isn’t built on how I feel about Him—it rests on how He feels about me.
That’s why worship at Christmas isn’t about recreating an emotion—it’s about remembering a fact. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” (John 3:16) Love came down, not because we felt worthy, but because He is faithful.
Today’s Tenacious Question
Where am I letting my feelings determine how I see God this Christmas, rather than letting the truth of Christmas define how I see my feelings?
Prayer
Father, thank You for sending Your Son—not because we felt close, but because You came close. This Christmas, free me from the tyranny of emotions that shift like the wind. Help me anchor my heart in the truth that You are with me, You love me, and You have secured my joy through Christ. Teach me to worship You not because of how I feel, but because of who You are—faithful, present, and true. Amen.
