Before Friday's shootings these songs brought much excitement, anticipation, and joy when I heard them but now as I listen to these songs through the ears of those who are grieving the loss of a loved one due to this horrible tragedy, it brings on a whole new meaning. A once silent night is now most likely filled with sobs and wailing. The once assuring words of I'll be home for Christmas won't come true. Where is the joy in this world after such a tragedy? It doesn't seem to be a word that describes Newtown right now. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy new year, I don't think merry and happy will be terms that these families will find over the next couple of weeks as Christmas comes and goes and a new year approaches. I'm sure their hearts are yearning for their loved one and the words of All I Want for Christmas Is You strike a whole new chord this year.
How does one go on and find another silent, calm night in the midst of their chaos and grieving? Will joy be found again in Newtown and in the homes of those who lost a loved one? Will merriment and happiness describe future Christmases and New Years these families will face?
I don't feel like I even have the wisdom or insight to even begin to answer these questions, it's not my place to even try. In times of deep trial and grief I know my Savior, Jesus Christ, speaks comforting and reassuring words that are filled with love and hope and that is where I want to dwell during this time. I think this is the perfect time to be reminded of some of the promises that scripture holds. Maybe these words will bring a little peace, joy, and hope during this extremely difficult time for so many.
The lyrics of Silent Night go like this:
Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
I'm sure sleep is a difficult thing to come by when grieving the loss of a dear one, and when sleep is found I'm sure it's not described as peaceful. Here is what God's Word says about peace that allows us to find this rest.
Proverbs 3:24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Proverbs 6:20-21
My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you.
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you.
Jeremiah 31:25-26
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.
At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 3:4-6
I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
The lyrics of Joy to the World read like this.
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
The first four words of this song say Joy to the world. I can't imagine uttering those words especially after loosing a child in such an awful way, an evil way, at the hands of a very dark dark person who radiates evil. But then I read the next four words, the Lord has come. Joy is not found in this world, Joy is found in Christ and in Him alone. We live in a fallen world, we are surrounded by evil influences that are of this world, but we have the promise that a Savior has come to save us from this world. Let us be reminded of that and soak in these promises:
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 14:16-18
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans;I will come to you.
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16:20
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
1 John 3:1-3
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
1 John 4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Titus 2: 13-14
While we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
The song titled All I Want For Christmas is You has also taken on a whole new meaning. Towards the very end of the song it says this:
Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is...
You
I imagine these words are at the heart and soul of each grieving person this Christmas. I'm sure that is all they want for Christmas, their loved one to be standing right outside their door. Sadly, that won't be the case but there is another who stands outside the door. His name is Jesus and He is ready, waiting, and always available.
Revelation 3:19-21
Matthew 11:28-29
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
So let me ask these questions again. How does one go on and find another silent, calm night in the midst of their chaos and grieving? Will joy be found again in Newtown and in the homes of those who lost a loved one? Will merriment and happiness describe future Christmases and New Years these families will face?
I believe the answers can be found in God's Word. God's Word is meant for each and every person. God is meant for each and every person. It is my prayer that those who are troubled, distraught, deep in grief, hopeless, deeply saddened, scared, and tired will look to the Lord who will walk with them through this time and bring them to a place where they can once again enjoy a silent night, find joy in the Lord, come to Him, and even enjoy a merry Christmas in the years to come and that happiness will once again be found in the years ahead.
So next time you listen to one of these familiar songs, remember the promises that God's word brings and pray. Pray for those who are hurting. Pray these scriptures over the people of Newtown.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.
The first four words of this song say Joy to the world. I can't imagine uttering those words especially after loosing a child in such an awful way, an evil way, at the hands of a very dark dark person who radiates evil. But then I read the next four words, the Lord has come. Joy is not found in this world, Joy is found in Christ and in Him alone. We live in a fallen world, we are surrounded by evil influences that are of this world, but we have the promise that a Savior has come to save us from this world. Let us be reminded of that and soak in these promises:
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 14:16-18
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans;I will come to you.
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16:20
Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
1 John 3:1-3
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
1 John 4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Titus 2: 13-14
While we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
The song titled All I Want For Christmas is You has also taken on a whole new meaning. Towards the very end of the song it says this:
Oh I don't want a lot for Christmas
This is all I'm asking for
I just want to see my baby
Standing right outside my door
Oh I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
Baby all I want for Christmas is...
You
I imagine these words are at the heart and soul of each grieving person this Christmas. I'm sure that is all they want for Christmas, their loved one to be standing right outside their door. Sadly, that won't be the case but there is another who stands outside the door. His name is Jesus and He is ready, waiting, and always available.
Revelation 3:19-21
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Psalm 70:4-5
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”
But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
John 14:23
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas;
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Saying the words "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" to a person whose heart is deeply grieving is probably not received as a happy greeting as it would have been just last week. These terms are normally spoken with an excitement and hope of what is to come. This Christmas most likely will not be merry for many families in Connecticut nor will happiness be a word to describe this new year but for those whose hope is in the Lord, they can rest in these promises.
Psalm 62:4-6
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:4-6
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Jeremiah 29:11
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
So let me ask these questions again. How does one go on and find another silent, calm night in the midst of their chaos and grieving? Will joy be found again in Newtown and in the homes of those who lost a loved one? Will merriment and happiness describe future Christmases and New Years these families will face?
I believe the answers can be found in God's Word. God's Word is meant for each and every person. God is meant for each and every person. It is my prayer that those who are troubled, distraught, deep in grief, hopeless, deeply saddened, scared, and tired will look to the Lord who will walk with them through this time and bring them to a place where they can once again enjoy a silent night, find joy in the Lord, come to Him, and even enjoy a merry Christmas in the years to come and that happiness will once again be found in the years ahead.
So next time you listen to one of these familiar songs, remember the promises that God's word brings and pray. Pray for those who are hurting. Pray these scriptures over the people of Newtown.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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