A Christmas Devotion for Tired, Discouraged Church Leaders

by Chuck Lawless Church Answers Consultant

It has been a long time, but I think I was in seventh-grade that holiday season. That year, all I wanted for Christmas was a ten-speed bike. It seemed all my friends were getting one (at least, that’s what they told me), and I wanted one, too.

A blue one with a black seat and handlebar covers.

I knew exactly what I wanted.

The problem was that my family couldn’t afford such a gift. Times had been difficult for us, and my parents let me know there would be no bike that year. They regretted that fact, but they didn’t want me to be disappointed on Christmas morning. I’d be lying to you if I said I went to bed that Christmas Eve with a great sense of anticipation and joy for the next day.

In fact, I slept in longer that Christmas Day than I think I ever had. Why rush to the decorated family room when I knew no bike would be there in the first place?

When I finally did get up that morning, I wandered sleepily into the family room, trying my best to look as excited as a selfish 12-year-old boy could look on a disappointing Christmas morning. I sat down at the base of the Christmas tree, looking around for the clothing I was sure was my gift that year.

Then, my sister, who had already been up for some time, caught my attention and just stared at me for some reason. My mom did the same from another corner of the room. So did my dad. Everyone just looked at me as if something were seriously amiss – until my mom pointed my attention toward something I had simply not seen: my new bike, exactly as I had wanted, leaning against the wall of our family room.

It’s hard to believe now, but I had walked right past it. I was apparently so consumed with my ongoing disappointment that I had completely missed the unexpected gift directly in…