We will be celebrating a very different Christmas this year. Instead of the usual parties, going to church and big family get-togethers, we will be celebrating Christmas with caution. We will be practising social distancing, staying away from our loved ones and celebrating Christmas with only the people we live with.
Some of us, unfortunately, will have to spend the holiday alone. This is definitely not the normal way we would celebrate Christmas.
Although the Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to change the way we celebrate this festive holiday, one thing remains the same: the main reason why we celebrate. As Christians, we use this holiday to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This is the season of hope, and we have the greatest hope in our almighty God and loving Saviour. Therefore, we mustn’t allow Covid-19 disease to dampen our spirits.
While we wait for the day when Coronavirus will finally be wiped out of existence, there are things we can do this Christmas to make it extra special so that we stay motivated and keep hope alive.
Remember the Reason Why We Celebrate Christmas
This holiday is not just about getting presents, eating good food, or spending time with our families – it’s about the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Messiah who came into this world through a humble birth to save humanity from our sins.
He was “despised and rejected” (Isaiah 53:3, NIV) but he still displayed his love toward us by sacrificing himself on the cross of Calvary so that we may be cleansed of our sins and have eternal life.
Focus on the Good Things We Have
It seems hard to think about all the good things we have when many of us have lost so much.
There are thousands of people in the United Kingdom and around the world who have lost their family members due to Coronavirus, many have been forced to close their businesses, and thousands have lost their jobs.
How is it that we are expected to focus on the good things we have when the world has suffered huge losses? We still have life. We still have health. We still have our talents and skills so we can find another job.
We have other family members and friends to comfort us and support us while we get back on our feet. We have smartphones and the internet so that we can stay connected to our loved ones. We have so much to be thankful for, we just need to take a closer look at what we have.
Be Positive About the Future
This is another thing that we may find hard to do. The pandemic has thrown the whole world into chaos, but we can still find ways to be positive about the future.
Although the Coronavirus pandemic is a major problem that we face, God has blessed us with thousands of brilliant doctors and scientists worldwide who are working around the clock to find the solution to wipe out this disease.
If the news is having a negative impact on you, stop watching it for a few days. Instead, go for a walk outside and enjoy nature, play games with your children, or talk with positive people, or read one of your favorite novels.
Do something that makes a difference in someone else’s life such as donating to a charity or a food bank. Doing something for others can help you to feel more positive about the future.
Trust God At All Times
We are living in difficult times and it may seem nearly impossible to put your trust in God, but I am telling you that it is possible. There are plenty of things we can do to trust God when life gets challenging.
First, believe that God is in control. The world is at war at the moment. We are at war with Coronavirus, we are at war with racism, and we are at war with poverty and many people are suffering as a result. But even in these tough times, we can still have faith in God because He promised to help us through the bad times.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1, NIV).
He also promised that He would be with us through the bad times. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV).
So even though we are living in these difficult times we can be sure that God will be there with us to help us through all our trials.
We may not be able to celebrate Christmas in the normal way, but there are still things we can do during this festive season to stay positive, motivated, and hopeful for a brighter future.
One of the things we can do to celebrate this holiday is to remember that the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the main reason why we celebrate Christmas.
We can also focus on the good things we have and less on what we don’t have, be positive about the future by helping others who are less fortunate, and remember that God is in control and that we can trust Him during these difficult times.
