Through every great blessing God bestows on us; for all the messes He’s repaired, for all the broken hearts; for providing relief from all our physical, spiritual and emotional needs, we give thanks today and every day. God understands.

The holiday meal has been served. A table of bounty, surrounded by friends and family is now empty. The guests have gone home. The leftovers have been packaged and stored for another meal or more. You’ve watched enough football to hold you until the next round. You may have gotten up way before your alarm went off to get in on all the black Friday deals. You fight the crowds. You buy more than you need. You arrive home exhausted and collapse in exhaustion. God understands.

Holidays like this and those to come can stir your adrenaline. A mixture of emotions can come out to haunt you. Many will suffer major bouts of depression as we enter the season of Christmas. You may be concerned about adding to an already hefty credit card debt. You hope that Christmas presents will be enjoyed by those for whom they were purchased. Decorations may go up, creating a beautiful display to praise the coming KIng of Kings, but what’s the motivation behind it? Are we trying to impress those who see them. Are those old ornaments going to make it through another Christmas? Are our aging bodies going to last that long? God understands.

You hang a wreath1, cut down a tree and display an Advent calendar which will be enjoyed each day. You go through the annual family traditions, but do you feel totally joyful? The joy we should feel at this adventurous time of year is not found in all the trimmings, the spending, the overindulgence, The peace that comes is in the form of a tiny baby born in a manger is all that’s important. This can also be a time of great depression for many. The loss of a loved one, the cancer diagnosis, the waiting to die, the trials of this life get in the way. The worries and fears that accompany these things naturally will bring us down, but God understands.

He knows everything about us. He made us. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He has gifted us with talents, provision and abilities to be used for advancing His kingdom. He loves us with a love that can’t be duplicated. There are no strings attached to His amazing gift. This is a time of preparation, but don’t let the small stuff or the big things get in the way of what’s coming. A King left His heavenly throne to live with His creation. He lived a humble life – one that resembled that of a servant. He shared His Father’s loving message with many. He was unjustly arrested, suffered and died the death of a criminal. He rose again proving that He is God and He conquered death. God, the Father understands each of our problems, but He goes the extra mile by laying down His life for us. God understands.