The holiday season is a time for such joy and love as we prepare to celebrate the greatest example we have for Holy. Then why is holiday stress a thing? Why do we seem snippy and inpatient in the moments that should be joyful?
There are so many answers to those however a few that come to mind are the fact that we don’t actually take time to appreciate our saviors birth. We don’t actually reflect on what his birth means for us. Instead we get caught up in Santa Claus. We get caught up in traveling. How are we going to give our kids an amazing Christmas gift wise, feast wise, etc. As much as these things are so fun, they should never be our focus. Never. Our eyes need to be on Jesus.
If we’re completely honest with ourselves our eyes are so caught up in the extra during this time of year that we take our eyes off of Jesus. Which spirals us out of control. So over the next few weeks we are going to do something different. I’ll be writing briefly over heart check topics centering around cleansing idols, unforgiveness, negative emotions, and more to help us each prepare our hearts for Jesus.
Last week I spoke real raw on forgiveness. I don’t mean to be harsh but I do mean to speak truth from a loving place. These next few weeks will be the same, I hope you choose to join me.
Today, we’re diving into the victim mentality that usually attack us this time of year. I’m talking about the voices in your head that tell you, “You’re doing all the holiday work.” “You are the one planning everything.” “You’re the one working your tail off for the family.” “You’re the one who is under appreciated and disrespected.” “I’m always the one traveling to family.”
Does that voice sound familiar? Is it the voice you hear when you look at your spouse? Is it the voice you look to when you have family over and they aren’t doing anything to help in the kitchen? Is it the voice you here when you get home from work?
This is a very real reality for a lot of us right now. The truth is, it is a real reality in our hearts that is simply heightened during the holidays. It’s a struggle for most couples and families.
In the middle of those victim mentality moments what if we simply asked God to help us see more than ourselves? To remind us that we are not the only one He loves. You will hear me talk about walking in Gods will for you, walking in righteousness and boasting in the Lord. However, with that we should never lose sight that others are doing that too. That we should want others to do that. Our eyes must be bigger than ourselves.
When it comes down to it, those statements above are all stemming from a place of pride. Maybe in our work or ourselves. None the less it is pride. It is a view that we are loved more than those around us. That we deserve more.
Let that sink in a moment. It’s a tough thing to hear but even tougher to admit. If you have any of that in your heart right now, take a moment and say it. It’s ok to admit our sin, in fact telling them to our father is important for our growth.
However, I won’t leave with you with just the harsh reality that we tend to suffer from prideful hearts during this season. I want to leave you with encouragement.
So then, what happens when we drop that pride at the very feet of the person we are celebrating this season? What does that even mean?
Dropping those negative emotions, the pride and asking God to expand our view to more than ourselves causes them to be filtered through a good God.
It means the very things that were once creating pride and victim mentality are now vessels for Gods goodness. The very emotions that stirred up inside causing pride now cause thanksgiving for the family, compassion for the spouse next to you, genuine excitement for the time spent to see loved ones.
This season there will be stressors. There will be things that cause negative emotions to stir up. We have the choice to let them control our vision and take our eyes off of Jesus or choose to lay them down at his feet so he can be the filter for us. So that he can tell us the truth about those very people we choose to blame. So that he can shine a mirror on our pride and cleanse that right out of us. So that he can remind us the world is bigger than us. That we are not the only one he loves with his whole heart.
If you feel like you’re struggling with this right now, know you’re not alone and there is hope of a more joyful holiday season. Keep your eyes on Jesus. If you need more encouragement go read 2 Samuel 11 then jump ahead and read Matthew 1:1.
David took his eyes off God and saw another person as a problem. He took it a step further and got rid of what he thought was his problem. Yet we see in Matthew, Christ is a descendant of that very man.
When we take our eyes off of Jesus we see others as our problem. We think what we want is better than what we have. That we deserve more. That we are loved more. However, like David, that does not have to be the end to our story. It can be filtered through our Good God.
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