Category: Holidays

Holidays

Finding Hope Amidst the Holidays: Christ, Our Constant in Divorce

Purposed Marriage
A woman sitting in a cozy chair reading a book by a warm fireplace, surrounded by Christmas decorations and gifts.
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

For many, Christmas is a season of unparalleled joy, family gatherings, and heartwarming traditions. But for you, navigating a divorce, especially during this time, the usual cheer can feel like a cruel mockery. Perhaps your home feels emptier, your traditions broken, and the pain of your dissolving marriage casts a long, dark shadow over the festive glow.

You are not alone in feeling this deep disconnect. The ache of a broken family during a season so focused on family unity can be incredibly isolating. You might be struggling to find even a flicker of the “reason for the season” when your own world feels like it’s falling apart.

But even in this profound pain, especially now, the message of Christmas remains profoundly relevant. The gift of Christ is not just for the joyful, the whole, or the untroubled. It is, perhaps most powerfully, for those who are broken, hurting, and desperately searching for a glimmer of hope.

The First Christmas: Not So Picture-Perfect

Think back to the very first Christmas. It wasn’t a perfectly polished, Instagram-ready scene. A young, pregnant woman and her bewildered fiancé, far from home, with no room at the inn. The birth of a baby in a stable, surrounded by animals. It was messy, inconvenient, and certainly not what anyone would have envisioned for the arrival of the King of Kings. Yet, in that humble, imperfect setting, God demonstrated His profound love and unwavering presence in the midst of human struggle and limitation.

Christ: Our Unchanging Gift

The greatest gift of Christmas is not wrapped in paper and tied with a bow; it is the person of Jesus Christ. He is Immanuel, “God with us.” And this “with us” isn’t conditional. He is with us in our triumphs, yes, but more profoundly, He is with us in our deepest valleys, our most agonizing heartbreaks, and our most profound disappointments.

In the midst of divorce, your life can feel like it’s been turned upside down. Relationships change, financial stability wavers, and future plans dissolve. It’s a time of immense uncertainty and loss. But Christ remains constant. He is the anchor for your soul in the storm. His love is not subject to the whims of human relationships or the breaking of vows. His grace is sufficient, even for this.

Finding Joy in the Midst of Sorrow

“Joy to the World” might feel like a distant echo right now. And that’s okay. The Bible doesn’t promise a life free from sorrow, but it does promise a God who is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). True biblical joy isn’t a superficial happiness dependent on perfect circumstances; it’s a deep-seated confidence in God’s goodness and faithfulness, even when circumstances are anything but good.

How can you find this joy amidst your pain?

  1. Lean into His Presence: Even if you can’t feel it, know that He is near. Spend time in prayer, pouring out your heart to Him. Read His Word, allowing His promises to minister to your spirit.
  2. Focus on the True Gift: Shift your focus from what you’ve lost to what you still have in Christ. The gift of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life is yours, regardless of your marital status. This is the ultimate “reason for the season.”
  3. Allow Yourself to Grieve: Don’t suppress your pain. God understands your sorrow. Jesus Himself wept. Give yourself permission to mourn the loss, but don’t stay stuck there. Let your grief eventually lead you to the Comforter.
  4. Seek Community: While some social gatherings might be difficult, seek out safe, supportive community – friends, family, or a church group who can offer empathy, prayer, and practical support without judgment.
  5. Serve Others: Sometimes, turning our focus outward can help us gain perspective. Even a small act of kindness or service to someone else can remind you of God’s love working through you.

This Christmas, know that your tears are seen, your pain is acknowledged, and your heart is not forgotten by God. The “reason for the season” isn’t about perfectly decorated trees or perfect family photos; it’s about the radical, unconditional love of a God who sent His Son to be with us, to save us, and to offer us enduring hope – even when our world feels like it’s crumbling.

May you find comfort in His presence and a renewed sense of hope in the unchanging gift of Christ this Christmas season.

Faithfulness, Healing and Reconciliation, Holidays

New Year, New Resolve

Tommy Larson

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Every new year brings with it a sense of fresh starts, renewed commitments and strengthened resolve. Depending on who you are listening to, the target of these resolutions may tend to focus on the external. Whether it’s shedding a few pounds, reading more, learning a new skill, or simply stepping out of our comfort zones and trying something new, the arrival of January 1st marks the point when many will begin their new journey. Unfortunately, this is also a time when many marriages hanging on by a thread get pushed to their limits and one or both parties decide it’s time to call it quits.

Making it through the holidays is challenging enough on its own. Normal holiday stressors, along with knowing what your spouse may be planning for the new year and doing everything within your power to prevent it from coming to pass, puts us in situations that are extremely challenging and difficult. Reflecting back, I remember the first Christmas apart from my wife saw me spend considerable time praying God would do a work in her heart and that the new year would bring healing and reconciliation. Surprisingly, there were more than a couple moments during the holiday season I actually sensed this may have been coming to pass. But unfortunately, those moments were short lived. Despite seeing what appeared to be real signs of promise in both word and deed, my prodigal eventually returned to the flesh and continued to willingly travel the road that led to destruction. Cleary, God had more work to do.

For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

Matthew 7:12 ESV

Now more than ever, the question we need to ask ourselves is if we are truly committed to standing for our marriage despite what we may see or know is coming over the horizon. An ungodly worldview void of biblical and eternal perspectives will tell you happiness and fulfillment is within your reach if you just let go of the past and move forward. We are told some marriages just don’t work out, and it’s better to leave an unhappy marriage, than to stay in a relationship where your emotional needs aren’t being met. Of course, this type of advice sounds great to the person who is hurting and has perhaps endured years of mistreatment and neglect. After all, don’t we all deserve to be happy and to not have to live in an environment where we find ourselves anxious, on edge, and unfulfilled? Biblically speaking, the answer is, no. In truth, what each of us deserves is an eternity in hell. Fortunately for us, because of the Father’s mercy and grace, we are promised an eternity with Him in glory, if we put our faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let this truth sink in and penetrate your soul the next time your heart turns and begins to long for what friends, family and those without a godly perspective say you deserve.

If you are in this stand for the long haul, let this new year mark the starting point for a renewed and strengthened resolve that will reject worldly counsel, and instead cling to the cross of Christ and his promise of hope and fulfillment. Your prodigal needs you now more than ever. It could very well be that God has the enemy on the ropes. Do you have the endurance required to finish the fight and end the battle? Are you going to give up on your spouse, your children and perhaps future generations because you are tired and weary? Purpose now to stand strong and believe in your heart that God is not done with you or your marriage. 2020 could very well be the year God has ordained for restoration to occur!

In Christ,

Tommy Larson

Healing and Reconciliation, Holidays

A Very Merry Christmas

Amy Larson

Glory to God in the highest!

Luke‬ ‭2:14‬

Every year around this time, I am reminded of the miracle God performed in our lives. It’s never lost on me the mighty work the Lord orchestrated when He brought Tommy and I back together. It was exactly three years ago that we officially said “I do” the second time. While we discussed a small ceremony on our original date in April, we decided not to delay and made a trip to the courthouse in order to finalize our vows.

The night before, I was still wrestling with the idea of committing to marriage. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to remarry Tommy, but I felt like I was unworthy of his love. There were so many things I hadn’t communicated with him during our time apart. I feared if he knew the truth of my sinful past, he wouldn’t want me as his wife. When I shared my hesitation, Tommy responded in a way that I will never forget. It was the most beautiful expression of human love I have ever experienced.

As I was crying and trying to utter words barely comprehensible, Tommy placed his hands on mine and consoled me. He said, “nothing you may have or may have not done will ever make me love you any less. Regardless of what has happened, I still want you to be my wife.” He even went as far as to say that any sin on my behalf was partially due to his failure to lead as my husband. With those words, I was reminded of the unconditional love God had granted me. Tommy demonstrated an earthly love greater than I had ever know, far greater than I deserved, a love that had no limitations or boundaries and was only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit.

The next morning, we headed to the courthouse with our youngest son in tow. I was still nervous, but was completely confident in the direction that God was leading. That day, I chose to be obedient. And, in choosing obedience, with God’s amazing sense of humor, I was placed at ease when I said “I do” in front of the county clerk decked out in the ugliest Christmas sweater I have ever seen! It was perfect, and it’s a day I now look back on with joy and laughter.

Dear friends, God still performs miracles in the lives of His children. Every year I capture photos for our Christmas cards, I reflect on the power of His hand at work in our lives. God did what we didn’t have the ability to do. He resurrected our marriage and fully restored us to Himself, and to God we owe all the glory!

From our family to yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!