Blue Christmases happen. I don’t have raw statistics to prove it, but for those battling cancer, the sense of isolation is usually greater during the holiday season. Cancer takes no holidays. It’s impossible to forget the Christmas that I was diagnosed. On the day before Christmas Eve in 2002, I had a biopsy on a large mass under my arm. The surgeon called to give me the results on Christmas Day. He was heading out of town; I was heading down the road with Stage III metastatic melanoma cancer. So much for peace on my little chunk of earth. There were lots of caring family and friends surrounded me, but I still felt alone.
The very first Christmas must have been deep blue for Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph. Remember they spent the night among the animals. At the Bethlehem Dew Drop Inn, no one gave up their room for the lady who was having a baby. Talk about a lonely feeling. Yet the best present was birthed in the form of Jesus Christ taking on human flesh. This “Presence” was “Emmanuel, God with us.” His presence is still expressed today, but in an even more accessible form. Now God dwells inside human hearts. How blessed we are!
So what are the benefits of this Presence within us today? No solo road trips. He never leaves or forsakes us. He turns on His high beams to light even the darkest nights. We can lean on Him for companionship, comfort and friendship. His direction is like the perfect on-board navigation system. There’s more. 2 Peter 1:4 says, “He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature.” How amazing! He brings divine resources – His strength and courage to face the pains of cancer and cancer treatment. And when you feel too weak to hang on, remember He is holding on to you! He is your stronghold.
If you haven’t received your Creator’s indwelling Presence, just receive Him right now. Ask Him to forgive your sins through Christ’s death on the cross. Ask Him to come into your life and live inside of you and be your life source. He will truly answer with His Presence. He is not some distant, smug royal, who sits passively indifferent to our situation. He wants to be involved in your life. In fact, He wants to live inside of you and ride everywhere with you!
