December 26

Zechariah 9:1-17; Revelation 17:1-18; Psalm 145:1-21; Proverbs 30:32

The day after Christmas, how do you feel? Are you tired? Sad it’s all over? Or maybe you’re glad it’s all over. Well, if you are like me, you have a mixture of both feelings. Part of what makes Christmas so special is the seasonal nature of celebrating it.

Today we see both the constant and seasonal nature of the Lord in our reading from Psalm 145. Let’s reread a few of the verses together: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generation. The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made” (vs. 13).  God is constant. He is faithful to all his promises and his kingdom endures through everything. God does not change.

What a good reminder for us after Christmas. Even though this Christmas season of rejoicing and giving is ending, it’s not really. It is God’s constant nature to be faithful and loving and good throughout all the seasons, both in nature and in our lives.

“The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Ps. 145:14).  Maybe this Christmas season was a hard one for you and you need to hear this message. You may feel bowed down with all the weights of worry and sadness and you need to be lifted up. All of us have seasons like that in life, and we wonder if, and when, God is going to act.

I believe he will.  He will lift you up.  But here is where we see the seasonal nature of God.  We see him acting at different times, according to the right seasons and rhythms of our lives.  He knows just the right time, or season, in which to act.

“The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing” (Ps. 145:15-16).

This imagery is so beautiful. It is one that has often brought me comfort as I am waiting for my God to lift me up when I feel bowed down. This imagery shows our complete dependency and need to trust. And it shows God’s complete goodness in providing exactly what we need at the proper time. He will satisfy our desires. I hope you believe that. I hope you wait for that.

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them” (Ps. 145:17-18).

This is who our God is. He is unchanging, yet he, too, is seasonal. He is always loving and always good. Let us cry out to him and then look to him alone. He alone will satisfy our desires in his perfect time.

- Mary Matthias

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