If Only…[Insert Your Situation Here]

 O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

O Holy Night, verse 1

Let’s start our time together with a short exercise.  Take a moment to finish this sentence:

If only…. 

So how did you answer it?  There are myriad ways to fill in that blank, and each is unique and nuanced to your situation but surprisingly common among your fellow humans.  We share the idea that things could always be better.  Our current situation is not the end but simply a point from which things could change.  This is theological and is deeply rooted in the sinful nature of humanity. It’s a longing for wholeness that is felt to the very core of our being.  

Psalm 84:2 says, “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” That word “yearn” is soul-wrenching.  Whenever I read it, I feel a pulling in my chest, crying out for something more.  As we navigate life, we observe so many loveless actions, and in our depths, our soul cries out for the living God.  We want something or someone to love in such a powerful way that it brings us to life and fulfills our hopes.

The unmatchable love of God does this.  As that baby is born in the straw, it signals that the time of “pining,”  the time of “yearning,” is over.  The soul felt its worth in the advent of Jesus.  The Apostle Paul drives this home by saying, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ, all will be made alive.”

Our souls are infinitely valuable to God; Jesus’ incarnation, death, and resurrection prove that.  He has proven repeatedly that he will do whatever it takes to help your soul feel its worth.

Scripture References

Psalm 84:2 1 Corinthians 15:22

Action Step

Bring your “If only…” to God today. Make time to let your soul rest in the truth that Jesus’ birth brings life-giving love.

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