4 Invitations to Rejoice and Be Glad When Holidays Don't Go according to Plan

If you, like me, grew up in the church, you might sometimes forget how completely absurd the gospel is. The poor will inherit the kingdom? Really? In this economy? There is power in weakness? Are you sure? It definitely looks like there is power in power.

God tells us we should love our enemies? Let me stop you right there because my particular enemies are really really bad. Loving them is out of the question. Best-case scenario I might be able to pray for their salvation. Maybe. On a good day. Yet from the pages of Scripture this topsy-turvy, upside-down message of the Kingdom of God is preached: the meek will inherit the earth.

Nowhere does this message ring out as it does during the season of Advent. In Advent—the four weeks leading up to Christmas—we prepare to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we also look with anticipation and hope toward the return of Christ in glory. Jesus is coming back! It is this reality that frees us to live with open hearts and hands, awaiting the return of the king. While the world takes itself far too seriously, clinging to sin and power, hatred and division, the people of God are invited into lives of joy. We know the end of the story, and it is filled with delight.

I think of the Godly woman described at the end of the book of Proverbs who can “laugh at the days to come” (31:25). She laughs not because she is foolish but because she is wise. As the Psalmist writes, “In God I trust and will not be afraid; what can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11). Advent reminds us that the pulsing, beating heart of God lies beneath all we can see and touch and experience in this world. There is more to the story; there is great joy ahead.

Embracing the playfulness of Advent allows us to live with open hands toward our neighbors, practicing generosity, kindness, and love. It frees us from fear. It binds us to hope. Here are four ways we can embrace the playfulness of Advent.

1. Expect the Unexpected

Many of my friends have systems to track their holiday seasons. I keep my Christmas card list in a spreadsheet, not wanting to accidentally forget anyone. We book weekends months in advance and try to squeeze in the children’s Christmas pageant or the holiday tea. Yet the playfulness of Advent invites us to keep our eyes open for the surprises of the Kingdom, from a neighbor in need to a last-minute invitation to gather with friends. After all, the shepherds had planned a quiet night with their sheep when the heavenly host appeared with the news that a baby had been born. They left their fields to go see—and worship.

2. Take a Quiet Moment

The holidays can get busy quickly, so be on the lookout for quiet moments to embrace the stillness of the season. This might mean you sit by the Christmas tree with a cup of cocoa and an open Bible. Perhaps you can snag an early bedtime and fall asleep to Advent music. Maybe you and a loved one can pause on the front steps to watch the snow fall rather than rushing in to finish the dishes. The stillness of winter can help remind us that—even in a busy season—the work is ultimately the Lord’s and he will sustain us.

3. Improvise

In my book, Happy Now, I write about God’s invitation to us to improvise. This playful act allows us to interact creatively, joyfully, and responsively to our circumstances. Perhaps nowhere is this as important as it is during the holidays. We might have an idea of how we want things to go, but inevitably something will fail to go according to plan. Whether it’s the stomach flu, a blizzard, or a charred pumpkin pie, disasters big and small are an invitation to trust, not despair.

4. Let it Be Enough

It is all too easy to overidealize the holidays. We want the table set just so or the perfect present chosen for a friend or the kids in their matching holiday attire (with no jelly stains, please!). Yet the reality will rarely—if ever—live up to our ideals. The playfulness of Advent invites us to bring our full, messy selves before God, and let that be enough. The whimsy of the season allows room for the less-than-perfect because that’s how the first Christmas played out, too. Mary never imagined lying her firstborn in a manger, far from her home and family. Yet the angelic chorus sang out the heights of the joys of heaven.

Whatever your holiday plans this Advent season, you can rest in the knowledge that God is near—born to save us and set us free. And that is the most joyful news of all.

Photo credit: ©Getty/Michael-Reeve

Courtney Ellis is a speaker, pastor, and author of books including Happy Now: Let Playfulness Lift Your Load and Renew Your Spirit and Uncluttered: Free Your Space, Free Your Schedule, Free Your Soul. A graduate of Wheaton College and Princeton Seminary, she lives in southern California with her husband Daryl and three children. She’s seen every episode of Survivor and loves a good crossword puzzle, hiking trail, and peanut butter cup. Hang out with her over on Twitter or Instagram.

This article is part of our larger Christmas and Advent resource library centered around the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. We hope these articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that God has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ!

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