How to overcome the sadness of the holidays

The holidays are just around the corner and for some people, this is the most wonderful time of the year but for others, it can be a very sad and lonely season.

For many years I felt the sadness of the holidays, as I spent another Christmas away from my family in Costa Rica. I just wished there was a way for all of us to be together.

I let sadness take over me so many times that it kept me from enjoying the blessings that God was giving me.

God loves to see His children happy, that is one of the reasons why He showers us with good things all the time. It’s not God’s will for you to be sad or depressed.

Little by little The Lord help me to overcome the sadness and now the holidays are my favorite season of the year.

Here are a few tips that will help you overcome the sadness of the holidays.

1. Choose Joy

You choose joy when you decide to dwell and think about the good things that make you happy instead of the things that make you sad.

The joy of The Lord is inside of you, you have the capacity to bring that joy forth. Don’t let the devil steal your joy.

Choose to think on the goodness of God. Sing songs, watch a funny movie, call a friend. Choose Joy!

Andrew Wommack has a great teaching called How to be Happy, which will really bless you!

Even though we may not know the exact day that Jesus was born, there is nothing wrong with celebrating the most wonderful day of all. The day that Jesus came to earth and changed our eternity forever.

That alone it’s a powerful reason to rejoice!

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2. Change your words

I’m in several Facebook groups for Christian women and I’m shocked to hear the way that a lot of women speak:

“I’m always depressed this time of the year”

“Holidays are so overwhelming, I can’t deal with them”

“I’m always broke, I’m sad because I don’t have enough money to buy presents”

Can you hear the negativity in those words? Jesus said in Mark 11:23-24 “you can have whatever you say”. Words have power. Your words frame your future, just like God’s words framed the world.

We have to be very careful with the words we speak. Instead of speaking the problem, why not speak the promises of God?

Yes, you may get depressed this time of the year, but don’t speak it out. Instead, say ” The joy of The Lord is my strength and I’m so happy to be alive and enjoy another holiday season”

Yes, the holidays can be overwhelming, but don’t speak it out. Instead, say “The Holy Spirit guides me every day and I do everything I need to do with excellence and in a timely manner. I have everything under control”

Yes, I understand you may be having a hard time financially but instead of speaking the problem, speak the promise of God. “My God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory, I have more than enough”.

3. Serve others

An excellent way to overcome the sadness of the holidays is to serve others.

You can help to decorate your church, you can help a food pantry. Clean someone’s home, make a meal for someone that sick or for the homeless.

There are hundreds of ways for you to shine the light of Christ and be a blessing to others.

Go to a senior center and play bingo with them, take your kids!

Babysit for a friend!

Volunteer at an animal shelter or a hospice.

If you can’t get out of your house you can still help. There are lots of Facebook groups for Christian women that are in need of prayer or a kind word.

If you want to serve, you will find a way. Follow Jesus’s example and make it a goal to be a blessing to others. When you take care of others, God will take care of you.

4. Reach Out

If you are feeling lonely, reach out, go out, don’t isolate.

Call a friend, go for a walk, go window shopping, listen to an encouraging podcast.

Remember that you may feel lonely but you are never alone, Jesus is right there with you. You may not see Him but He is there. Acknowledge His presence.

He said HE will never leave you or forsake you. You can talk to Him, just make sure you give Him a chance to talk back to you.

5. Forgive

A lot of times we feel the way we feel because we don’t want to let go of the chains that have us bound.

The best present you can give yourself is to forgive someone that has done you wrong.

The word of God tells us that we need to forgive in order to be forgiven. When you don’t forgive you are hurting yourself because you are keeping the Holy Spirit from healing your wounds.

This holiday season choose to let go and let God. Choose to forgive.

If you have a hard time forgiving, ask God to help you and start praying for that person that has done you wrong. Soon, God will start working in your heart, but you have to be willing and obedient to forgive.

6. Focus on Jesus to overcome the sadness of the holidays

In the story of Peter walking on water, we can see that as soon as Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and started looking at the storm he started to sink.

When you feel like you are sinking is because you have taken your eyes off of Jesus.

When you are focused on Jesus even though the waves of life will keep coming in, you don’t have to be afraid, because your eyes are fixed on the one that can keep you above the waves.

So, when sadness and depression try to come in, fix your eyes on Jesus. Don’t worry about what’s going on around you. Stay with Jesus, stay on the word, a good foundation will keep you unshakeable.

7. Create a family chat

If you don’t have one yet, a family chat is a great way to stay connected with family that lives far away.

I made a chat in WhatsApp for my family. I love it, everybody shares their pictures, we pray for one another, we celebrate each other. We laugh and we cry together.

Even when we are thousands of miles apart, I feel close to them every day. Thank God for technology!

Remember

What we do each day here on earth matters, it has eternal consequences. How we spend our time here on earth it’s important.

Don’t let the devil steal the joy that each day brings. Enjoy the food, enjoy the lights, enjoy the music, enjoy the weather, enjoy everything that comes with the holidays, because all of it it’s a blessing from God.

Share this post and bless a friend!