As we turn the calendar toward Christmas, many of us feel both the sparkle of the season and a few shadows from the past. Christmas has a way of magnifying things.
A joyful moment becomes brighter, like that perfect cup of cocoa on a perfect winter night.
But painful memories can grow louder too— old wounds, old regrets, or old family tensions that seem to sneak back in like unwanted guests. Sometimes it feels as if we’re being nudged by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, and not the illuminating Dickens kind either.
The good news is that God speaks right into those places of darkness. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2) He goes on to announce the child who would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) Seven hundred years before Bethlehem, God promised that light would break into our darkness. And in Jesus, it did.
Maybe this season finds you discouraged, disappointed, or distant. Maybe someone you trusted hurt you deeply. Maybe you’ve carried shame for years. But Jesus came precisely for people stumbling through the dark. John begins his Gospel by saying, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.” (John 1:4) Light does not fear the dark. Light wins. Always.
That’s why this Christmas, instead of pretending everything is fine, let’s dare to step into the shadows with Scripture as our guide. Let’s talk about releasing offenses, letting go of shame, and surrendering the labels others have placed on us.
If you’ve ever wondered whether real change is possible, you and Ebenezer Scrooge have something in common. Dickens gave his character that Old Testament name on purpose. In 1 Samuel 7, Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer, “for the Lord has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12) It was a marker—a reminder that repentance is powerful, and transformation is possible.
Maybe you need such a marker this year. Maybe you need to take whatever haunts you— old anger, old hurt, old mistakes—and bring it into the light of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World.” (John 8:12) If you follow Him, you will not stay in darkness.
The child in the manger grew into the Savior who carried your sins to the cross so you could walk in freedom, not fear. When you surrender your heart, your mind, and your will to His cleansing power, you’ll find both redemption and proof that hope is no humbug. It is the truest thing about Christmas.
If you’re looking for a place to begin that surrender, you’re invited to LECC at 415897 Highway 9, Eufaula—smallgroup Bible study at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday all-age activities at 6:30 p.m. Even Scrooge would call that a pretty good start.
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
