What is the comfort of Christmas?
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4
Father of All Comfort,
With the losses of many years mounting,
divisions among friends and families,
war throughout the world,
harsh diagnoses and deaths of many dear ones,
we’re aware that this Christmas season
may not be so merry for everyone.
And yet, into the silent and dark season long ago,
you sent your very own Son,
a baby born to bear our griefs,
a child delivered to carry our sorrow,
an infant sent to suffer for our sins,
Because he submitted to this suffering,
we can know the “peace on earth”
we sing about in this season.
Because he was “afflicted” by you (Isaiah 53:4),
we can know the “joy to the world”
we sing about in this season.
Even in the midst of sorrow,
may we see the profound hope of healing
we have in our suffering Savior.
Amen.
Read Isaiah 53:1-12.
Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.
