By Nicole Stevenson
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4).
For many of us who’ve left Adventism, the holidays can be particularly tricky and sometimes painful. Not everyone experiences the consequences of leaving Adventism in the same way, but for many the fallout is real and often devastating—especially inside the family. In spite of the trials, though, the holidays are also a time for celebrating our God and for focusing on the gift of Jesus Christ and the salvation He brings.
Scripture tells us that following Christ brings consequences, that even family relationships may be severed for the sake of the gospel. Even so, we can rejoice—returning to the source of our joy and offering our broken hearts as platforms of praise to our God, who is the heartbeat of these holidays we love.
Rejoicing often comes for me as I surround myself with music rich in theological truths, or when I read and copy Scripture. Returning to the source of my joy means setting my heart and mind on the truths of who God is and what He has done.
When I focus my mind on what the holidays really honor, my emotions are also refocused, and the joy of the Lord becomes my strength even when I feel loss. When I express my thankfulness to God, I remember that I no longer live locked in the confusion of my depravity, or under the weight of my sin and shame, or in the uncertainty of life after death. Those chains have been broken by the miraculous incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
I have been escorted into the light of Christ and transferred to the Kingdom of the beloved Son where I’ve been given new life and the ability to know truth. I’ve been reconciled to and adopted by the Father, and I am sealed forever by the Holy Spirit who guarantees my salvation! This new reality is Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter all packaged together!
We can rejoice and be content no matter what we face this holiday season—because of a baby. This helpless baby, the incarnate Word gifted to us by the Father, grew up knowing resentment, rejection, and hate. Finally, He was led to the slaughter on our behalf. This holy, helpless infant, born under the cloak of night, bore the fullness of God into our evil world to rescue His people from the clutches of sin and death!
It is to Him, our Most High God, that we owe our deepest loyalty and gratitude, our fullest attention, and our highest praise! It is to this Merciful One who knows what it is to suffer that we can bare our broken hearts, placing our burdens at His feet, and thank Him for what He is doing in us in the midst of our trials and loss.
Our Savior knows what it is to walk a path paved with the certainty of calamity for the glory of God. Because we share in His sufferings and His comfort, we can know His compassion through trials and cling to hope no matter the outcome.
All the power of the Trinity works to lead us home. Though we may walk through dark valleys of loss or rejection, we are never without our Great Shepherd. We fix our eyes on Him, and our hearts rejoice and praise Him for the life we now have—in spite of our personal losses. It is in this place of worship lived out—with our minds fixed on truth and our spirits worshiping God—that we find our deepest and most lasting contentment in the Life After. †
- We Can’t Stay To Make a Difference - March 21, 2024
- Rejoice Together at the Former Adventist Conference - January 25, 2024
- We Give Thanks In All Seasons - November 16, 2023