Wherever Jesus is, he brings “grace upon grace.” John 1:16
Lord Jesus, I woke up feeling the weight of friends’ heartaches, health challenges, and the weight of waiting. On the relational front, many of us would love Christmas 2025 to bring a version of the last scene in Jimmy Stewart’s “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Resolution and redemption, a happy gathering and a healing story would truly be “wonderful.”
But whatever the storyline, you always come to us as our most wonderful, merciful Savior—bringing grace upon grace, and more grace on top of already given grace. Thank you, Jesus. So, we pray for our friends whose Christmas will be marked by an empty chair(s) and a painful heart-hole. Hasten the Day of death’s termination and eternal celebration—no waiting rooms or recovery rooms, no more funerals parlors only resurrection parties. Rush the return of our prodigals, and supersize our hearts with your mercy and welcome should they come through the back door this year.
We also pray in view of other scenarios each of us has. During the holidays old wounds get triggered, and incomplete healing gets neon lighted. Messy relationships seem messier, and loneliness feels its loneliest. No one understands these things better than you. The world into which you were born was filled with relational madness, deep weariness, and multiple fears. Yet you don’t shy away from any of this stuff. For you came to make all things new and beautiful—meaning everything really is broken.
As always, may your presence be the greatest present we receive this Christmas. Do more than we can ask or imagine, Jesus. Free us from comparing our family to the family up the street or in our church. Keep us grateful, tender, and expectant. So Very Amen.
