The Grinch. It’s a holiday classic. From his mountain lair, the Grinch observes the people of Whoville happily preparing for Christmas, so he decides to go down to their village and steal their joy. Secretly at night he removes food from the pantry, decorations from the walls, and presents from under the tree. Then he waits eagerly for the Christmas dawn to expose the Whoville’s emptiness. Instead, the dawn exposed his emptiness.

Many Grinches threaten to steal our joy and peace at Christmas. We think we are buying just the right gift for someone but it receives a cool reception. The rush of the season, long lines, and slow traffic replace our joy with frustration. In-laws (and other relatives) try our patience. After the season passes, unmet expectations dampen our spirit and the holiday blues move in. With the arrival of the New Year, we are relieved the stress has passed rather than refreshed by the promise of Christ.

More than we would like to admit, we allow the craziness of the Christmas season to be the Grinch that comes into our heart to steal our joy. But with a new perspective, God can give us a transformed heart so that our circumstances don’t dictate our attitude. The new perspective that promises life is this:

G.R.I.N.C.H.

God

Reached

Into the World

Now

Christ brings

Hope

Why would that new perspective benefit us? During the holidays, we often strive to make the season just perfect. We want it to be magical for our kids and acceptable to our mother-in-law. If we are honest, often our striving is to fill a need in our own heart for love, approval, acceptance, or satisfaction. The holidays tend to highlight a void in our heart. It is a season of expectation, but we often come up short. In the midst of the parties, gifts, shopping, and activities, something is still lacking, and we feel disappointed, or a little empty.

The heart of the Christmas message can give you a new perspective. In essence, God says to you, “I have stepped into the world to satisfy your soul and bring you joy. That is why I sent Christ. Circumstances and people may disappoint, but your joy, hope, and expectations can be fully met in me.” The secret is that joy comes from a relationship with Jesus. That is what the Christmas story is all about.

We strive as women for love, acceptance, security, and approval. God says to us “stop striving. There is nothing that you can do to earn those things from me. Everything you need to be accepted and loved by me has been done for you when Jesus died on the cross.”

Jesus was born with a purpose. He came to die so that he could forgive us for all of our shortcomings—the ugly things in our heart we know are there. God says, “Admit your shortcomings, name them. I’ll forgive you. I’ll accept you. I’ll love you unconditionally. I don’t accept you for the things that you do, but because you have been forgiven by my Son.”

How do you receive God’s approval and forgiveness?

1. Admit that there is nothing you can do to ever be good enough to merit his acceptance.
2. Thank God that he sent his son Jesus to live the perfect life you and I are not able to live. Thank God that Jesus died on the cross in your place to pay the penalty of your wrongdoing. (The Bible uses the word sin).
3. Receive God’s gift of forgiveness through belief and faith in Jesus.

If this is the desire of your heart, tell God. If you don’t know what to say, borrow the words from the prayer below. Then tell someone before you put your head on the pillow tonight.

PRAYER:

“God,

I am tired of striving for the approval and love of others and ultimately of you. I thank you for the gift of Jesus who came to give me hope, life, and forgiveness. Please look into my heart, forgive me for the many ways that I fall short of your perfection. Thank you for sending Jesus to live and die on the cross so that I could be forgiven. I accept your gift of forgiveness and acceptance through faith in Jesus. AMEN.”