Praising Jesus Christ, even as we suffer at Christmas

As we suffer this Christmas, let’s remember what is true, sister in Christ.

Will you join me as I interrupt my suffering with praise to Jesus? 

I call it a “praise interruption,” turning around to praise our Lord, within our lament over all that is painful. Like the lament Psalms, we bring our tears, anxieties, grief, anguish to Him and then we rehearse what is true to our hearts, until we can authentically exalt our God, our Lord, our Savior.

And Christmas? It celebrates the One who is the only truth.

We may praise Him through tears and groans, but this can become His healing of our hurting hearts. I pray that this gospel-centered prayer will be a gift to you as you celebrate Christmas, even while we’re continuing to suffer.

Lord, I am suffering, but You say this is true:

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life (1 Jn. 5:20 ESV, emphasis added).

Hail, the heav’n-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall (Mal. 4:2 ESV).

You came, given…for me.

So, in my suffering, I praise You because:

Light and life to all he brings,

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12 ESV, emphasis added).

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6 ESV).

ris’n with healing in his wings.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3 ESV).

He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6 CSB).

You’ve done this…for me.

As I suffer at Christmas, please help me follow You, my living hope

I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins (Jn. 8:24 ESV).

But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed (Is 53:5 ESV)…He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed (1 Pet. 2:24 ESV).

Mild, he lays his glory by,

[Jesus] emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-8 ESV).

born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth.

(“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” Wesley, C., 1739)

Into my suffering, I’ll sing songs from my Christmas playlist as I exalt You today. I’ll join the chorus of worship from eternity past to eternity future.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6 ESV).

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

In the power-full name of Jesus Christ, my beloved Savior, the reigning King, my alive Lord, Amen and amen.

Resources to praise Jesus, even as we suffer this Christmas

Sister in Christ, as we bring all our pain to the Lord this Christmas, I’m praying He will use Christmas carols, songs, and hymns to contagiously stir our hearts into a “praise interruption” this year. Things may not feel or look holly and jolly, but we can sing what is true about our God entering time and space to take our place and rescue us, making us His wholly loved daughters.

I’m praying that, in the singing, it becomes intimate knowing and even rejoicing, in our suffering. What better time of year for Him to do this transforming work of love in our hearts as we suffer? The music is glorious!

This week, I’ve created a “contagious,” Christ-exalting playlist of Christmas carols, songs, and hymns for us to use to come to Jesus as we are and sing praise directly to Him. If this might bless you this week, sign up here and it will come to your email. Have yourself a blessed little Christmas!