Christmas is supposed to be a season of wonder. Twinkling lights, familiar songs, meaningful traditions and time with people you love can all point toward the joy of celebrating Jesus’ birth. But when your December calendar fills with responsibilities and expectations, weariness can settle in before you realize it.
Maybe you remember a time when Christmas felt different. As a child, you may have counted down the days and experienced joy in even the smallest traditions. As an adult, you might find yourself simply trying to catch your breath as you move from one responsibility to the next.
In the middle of trying to make Christmas special for everyone else, it can be easy to miss the wonder yourself.
But the Christmas story gives you an opportunity to slow down and remember what this season is really about. In Luke 1, before the story of Jesus’ birth begins, you meet people who knew what it meant to wait, wonder and trust that God was at work even when they couldn’t yet see what He was doing.
Weary of Waiting
Luke’s account of the life of Jesus doesn’t begin with Jesus’ birth; it begins instead with the story of Zechariah, an elderly priest who was tired of waiting.
Zechariah had heard promises of Israel’s rescue from oppression and sin his entire life. That future must have seemed out of reach under Rome’s harsh control. But Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, also had an unfulfilled personal longing: “They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old” (Luke 1:7, NLT).
One day, as Zechariah performed his duties in the temple, he was chosen to burn incense in the sanctuary — a rare honor with an unexpected result:
While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly” (Luke 1:11-17, NLT).
Trusting God in the Waiting
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah and announced that God had heard his prayer. Elizabeth would have a son named John who would “… prepare the people for the coming of the Lord” (Luke 1:17b, NLT).
After years of waiting, God answered Zechariah and Elizabeth’s prayer as part of an even bigger story: They would finally have the child they had prayed for, and their son would prepare the way for Jesus.
But Zechariah struggled to understand how it could possibly happen: “… ‘How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years’” (Luke 1:18, NLT).
Zechariah could only see what seemed possible based on his circumstances. But God was asking him to trust what He had promised.
The angel Gabriel responded by telling Zechariah that he would be unable to speak until the child was born, adding, “For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time” (Luke 1:20b, NLT).
Maybe you know what it’s like to pray about something for months or even years. It can be hard to keep trusting that God is working when it seems like nothing is changing.
Zechariah’s story reminds us that even when we can’t see what God is doing, He is still faithful to His promises.
Waiting is woven throughout the Christmas story. Maybe it’s part of your story too. Our free four-week Advent devotional, “Hope in the Waiting,” can help you spend time in Scripture and deepen your trust in Jesus. Find hope in the waiting this Advent season!
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From Weariness to Wonder
A few months after appearing to Zechariah, Gabriel appeared to Mary with an even more startling announcement: The Lord had chosen her, an unmarried young woman from an insignificant town, to give birth to the Messiah who was destined to rescue God’s people.
Like Zechariah, Mary initially responded with a question: “… ‘But how can this happen? I am a virgin’” (Luke 1:34, NLT).
However, as Gabriel explained that the Holy Spirit would cause the baby to grow and He would be the Son of God, Mary’s confusion turned to wonder. And her wonder led to worship.
While Zechariah focused on his circumstances and limitations, Mary concentrated on the God who fulfills His promises.
When Wonder Leads to Worship
When Mary visited Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with her own miracle, she burst into a jubilant song:
… ‘Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever’ (Luke 1:46-55, NLT).
This song is called the Magnificat (Latin for “magnify”), and it brings God’s greatness into sharp focus. Mary praised His holiness, mercy, strength, justice and faithfulness. She remembered His promises and recognized that His plan to rescue His people was unfolding right before her eyes.
Mary still didn’t know exactly what the future would hold. But instead of focusing on everything she didn’t know, she focused on the God she knew she could trust. His plan was much larger than her questions and fears.
Finding Wonder in the Midst of Christmas Weariness
Your Christmas season may still be busy. You may still have plenty of things left on your to-do list, like buying gifts, attending gatherings and preparing meals.
You may also be carrying things that aren’t quite as easy to check off a list. Maybe you’re waiting for an answer to prayer. Maybe this Christmas looks different because someone you love is no longer there. Or maybe you’re simply tired and wishing you could feel some of the joy you think you’re supposed to feel this time of year.
The Christmas story doesn’t ask you to ignore any of that. Instead, it reminds you where to turn in the middle of it.
When Christmas weariness begins to take over, remember the holiness, mercy, strength and faithfulness of God. Remember how He kept His promises to Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary. Most importantly, remember Jesus, the promised Savior at the center of the Christmas story.
The wonder of Christmas isn’t found in creating the “perfect” holiday — it’s found in remembering who God is and what He has done.
And that good news is for all people.
Around the world, people are experiencing the hope of Jesus through God’s Word in their own language. Through Bible translation, more people can encounter the hope of the Christmas story — a faithful God who keeps His promises and sent His Son so that we can know Him.
The good news celebrated at Christmas is for all people. Through immersive stories, videos and firsthand accounts, see what it means for people to encounter Jesus through Scripture in their language.
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Pause and Look for Wonder
This Christmas, take a few moments to slow down and remember who God is and what He has done. Consider these questions:
- What brought you a sense of wonder when you were younger? How might those things point you toward the goodness of God?
- What are you waiting or praying for this Christmas? What would it look like to trust God with it?
- What part of God’s character gives you hope right now?
- How might God be inviting you to help someone else experience the hope of Jesus this Christmas?
No matter what this season looks like, the Christmas story reminds us all that God is faithful. He keeps His promises, He came near to us through Jesus and He is still at work today.
So when weariness starts to creep in, turn your attention back to Him — and rediscover the wonder at the center of Christmas.
