For some individuals, it is harder to find hope during the holidays. Of course, if you judge the winter holiday season by TV ads and Christmas movies on Hallmark Channel, everything is all sweetness and light with cheery music in the background. But for many people, the holidays loom heavy with financial pressures, unrealistic expectations, and forced family get-togethers.
To make things even more difficult, the weeks of holiday festivities increase people’s feelings of loneliness. Other people may be grieving because this is their first holiday celebration without their loved one. Then, Christmas and other winter season celebrations disrupt everyone’s routines, wreaking havoc with dietary regimens, daily exercise schedules, and sleeping habits. These changes impact people struggling with self-care management of anxiety and depression. Overall, these disruptions in routine are enough to dampen moods and lower energy levels.
Significant as they are, the shifting sands of daily life routines are not the gravest drawback during the holidays. As the northern hemisphere moves closer to Christmas Day, the days get shorter and the nights get longer. Those meteorological changes mean less sunlight, and the reduction in sunlight has a miserable impact on sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the less severe “holiday blues.”
For most people, the winter holiday season is the busiest time of the year. Family members find themselves juggling multiple social activities. Parents with children face chorus and play rehearsals, as well as performance deadlines. And in the middle of the chaos comes Christmas vacation from school, when all the kids are home from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day. Finally, on top of these routine busters sit Christmas shopping obligations, baking duties, and a big Christmas dinner to plan for all the relatives. Responsibilities can start as early as Thanksgiving Week and reach their crescendo on New Year’s Eve. The season is exhausting and easily overwhelms even the most devoted festival enthusiast. It’s enough to make those who feel behind wonder where to find hope during the holiday season.
The World Needs More Christian Encouragement
When the holidays feel oppressive, the faith community needs to increase the energy spent on Christian encouragement, rather than Christmas presents. Christian encouragement means building people up by comforting them and reminding them of God’s truth and hope. Scripture teaches the faithful not to rely on worldly confirmation of His promises. The Bible commands the faithful to grow in their faith, to endure trials of life, and to focus on the evidence of God’s work in their lives.
A key component of Christian encouragement is its duty to facilitate courage and humility in people. Especially uplifting for the downtrodden, Christian encouragement grants hope through the Word during difficult times. The Bible’s command to encourage each other is a crucial element of discipleship and the faith community. Christianity calls the faithful to support each other through the work of the Holy Spirit living within each person.
Christian encouragement takes many forms, such as:
- Praying with someone who is hurting, asking for strength
- Offering examples of the good people are doing
- Offering examples of ways you see others growing in their faith and living their beliefs
- Share with others how the Holy Spirit entered your life and the ways that your prayers were answered
Christians can encourage each other by thanking the people who acted and brought them closer to Christ. Remember: Christian encouragement makes it easier to live a Christian life.
Faith During Grief
Faith during grief helps the faithful navigate their bereavement. Faith instills the hope for a future without pain, for eternal life, and emotional healing. Scripture teaches that God is close to the brokenhearted, which suggests that followers should remain faithful during painful periods of grief because they are not alone. This closeness provides solace for people facing loss through death because they view the event as simply a transition to a better place.
Faith communities give comfort to the aggrieved as they share their grief with community members. Prayer circles are an example of the kind of faith community activity that uplifts other members through the strength of communal prayer.
It is crucial to remember that even the most stalwart of the faithful will feel sorrow during a personal loss. Grieving and unhappiness are an integral part of the human condition. Grief is a healthy reaction to loss. The comfort is that it is possible to believe in God’s plan while feeling pain and loss. Faith inspires a strong connection to the higher power because that connection provides solace and strength to endure hard times. The connection is accomplished through prayer and worship rituals. During times of grief, just communion in a quiet place, knowing that God is close, is healing.
The Meaning of God With Us
In the Bible, the phrase “God with us” refers to God’s presence with humanity, especially through his son, Jesus Christ. The Bible calls Christ by the title Emmanuel because He is both God and man, and He lives among His people.
Scripture tells the faithful that after Jesus died and rose again, He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within them, making God present in a personal and intimate way. The presence of God with His followers offers the faithful hope, strength, and a promise of support during life’s challenges, such as grieving. This promise of God with us is not just for today. It continues as Jesus promised to be with his followers always until he comes again to claim his kingdom and judge the quick and the dead.
Jesus being made flesh (incarnation) is the deepest expression of God’s love, coming to save the faithful from sin and to offer new life after death.
Hope During the Holidays
Faith gives faithful Christians hope during the holidays. Naturally, it is not just about getting through the frenetic holidays but overcoming every difficult challenge and all the hard times. Whether it is the promise that God is with us always or the demand that Christians encourage each other, faith makes living the Christian life easier.
Faith helps heal those embarking on mental health journeys. Faith comforts and gives peace to those struggling with grief for a lost loved one. As the scripture promised, mourners are blessed because they will be comforted by the pledges God made.
Reaching Out to Professionals for Help
Refinery Counseling Services, LLC (RCS) is a premier, private clinical mental health therapy firm with a faith foundation. Our therapists understand that faith is important to many people, and they need a therapy experience that supports their faith. RCS incorporates scripture and prayer as part of the client’s therapy if the client desires. Our experienced therapists help client explore their spiritual identity and work through their struggles with emotional healing. Our therapists believe that faith and mental illness intertwine since the client’s beliefs impact their worldview, how they understand hardship, and recovery from pain.
RCS provides a wide range of services to fit your needs, such as:
- Individual therapy – one-on-one sessions with your therapist to guide you on your mental health journey
- Group therapy – sessions with multiple participants who share their experiences regarding a particular area of interest and are guided by a therapist
- Couples therapy – session with a therapist to discuss relationship issues
- Child and adolescent therapy – sessions to assist a child or adolescent to resolve childhood trauma
- Family therapy – sessions with the family’s therapist to discuss interfamily relationship issues and bring them back into harmony
Our firm believes that every person has the potential to heal and grow. The firm’s mission is to empower every client as they pursue healing. We commit to compassionate care and to providing the support and resources to accomplish their mental health journey goals.
What Happens During the First Therapy Session?
Your therapist will assess your current situation, ask questions about your history, and ask about your needs and goals. You can also ask the therapist questions about their education, their clinical experience, their commitment to compassionate care. You can ask questions about fees, what insurance we accept, and the procedure for scheduling appointments. We want you to feel comfortable with your therapist.
How Long Does Therapy Last?
Most sessions last about 50 minutes but that can vary based on client needs and the type of therapy approach. Every client’s number of sessions varies. In the beginning clients usually see the therapist once a week, or once every two weeks.
Interested in Additional Information about RCS Therapy?
If you or someone you know is interested in exploring options for psychotherapy sessions, please contact us today. Our friendly staff stands ready to schedule a free initial consultation for you at your convenience with one of our licensed therapists. Our therapists have years of clinical experience and would be happy to tailor a treatment plan that meets your needs and goals to improve your mental health. Our therapists respect and support each client’s spiritual autonomy. You decide how much or how little Christian values will form a foundation for your therapy.
