Season of Loss
By
Elizabeth Cole
“Then the angel showed me the river
of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and
of the Lamb…No longer will there be any curse…”
Revelation 22:1,3a (NIV)
In the midst of a holiday season, sometimes there is the life-shattering loss that others experience. Loss of a grandfather whose life was well-lived; sudden and heart-jolting loss of a husband and children; loss of physical mobility due to an accident; loss of all material possessions; utter loss of hope in the caverns of depression. And it’s only the second week of December. Such brokenness doesn’t seem to fit with the season….
As a result, the Christmas carol roiling around in my head doesn’t have a lot of festive “fa la la’s” in it, nor does it descend the C major scale proclaiming exuberant joy to the whole world. Rather, I find myself meditating on the plaintive cry of God’s people in bondage: O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Are you familiar with the words? The first verse laments captivity and loneliness and exile, asking Emmanuel to come and to ransom them. Take a moment to sing it softly to yourself.
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Loss. Lament. Loneliness. Captivity. Not the usual theme of Christmas. And yet, read Jesus’ words as he quotes the prophet Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19)
Loss. Poverty. Captivity. Oppression. Not just a theme, but THE theme of Christmas. Into our cursed world of hopelessness and loss, a Rescuer appears. One who can save us from death’s final word, reverse Eden’s curse, and ultimately restore all that sin has broken. A Redeemer who not only intends to do what it will take to re-establish a right relationship with His people, but will then become “Emmanuel” in the truest sense of the word, choosing to dwell within those same people forever…God With Us.
So I’m thinking, those in whom Emmanuel resides…wouldn’t we want to tenderly participate in His plan to restore those suffering brokenness and poverty and bondage and oppression and loss? To proclaim with our hands and our mouths the Lord’s favor?
We desperately need Christmas…because of loss.
GOING DEEPER:
1. Who in your life is suffering loss right now? How will you let God use you to touch their lives?
2. Take some time to thank Jesus today for showing up; for being our Restorer and Redeemer and Rescuer.
FURTHER READING:
Psalm 18:19; Romans 5:6-11; Colossians 1:13
Elizabeth is a wife with three grown daughters and two sons-in-law, and is the Director of Connecting at Oakwood Church.
