Editor’s note: Kaylin Carlson led musical worship last Sunday at Rockford Rescue Mission. She read this personal reflection before singing Winter Snow.
Maybe this season is coated with a bit of a sting.
A sting from a harsh past
Harsh people
Harsh words
Harsh actions
Harsh situations
Harsh losses
Harsh treatment
Harsh memories
Harsh realities
When everyone else seems to be basking in the peaceful, joyous atmosphere of Christmas like some Hallmark movie.
It’s almost like this season emphasizes the cruel reminders of how earthly power can be used to steal, kill, destroy.
The power of an abuser
Of a circle of people
Of a substance
Of a disease
Of violence
Of trauma
Of death
For me, having experienced much trauma for the first 25 years of my life, I became used to people using the power they have to hurt me, control me, manipulate me, belittle me, destroy me and break me.
I’m sure we’ve all experienced power in a damaging way.
Maybe one of these ideas is why Christmas is hard for you.
And you think to yourself, how could I possibly find JOY right now?
But thinking about Christmas moves me to the core, and maybe you’ll be able to relate.
Craig D. Larnsbrough says, “The power of restraint is the greatest display of power.”
It absolutely wrecks me to think about how the God of the universe—possessing endless power beyond comprehension—used it to come to earth as a baby.
A baby.
The weakest.
The most vulnerable.
He could have come in riding on waves of fiery lava, reminding us of all the great plans he had for this world and how we managed to screw it all up.
He could have not come down at all. Like seriously, who would want to leave literal HEAVEN?
He could have wiped us all out without even lifting a finger.
And, let’s be honest, we’d have deserved it.
But he didn’t.
Of all the things he could have used his power for, he used it to humble himself.
He used it to get closer to us.
He used it to heal us.
He used it to save us.
He used it to love us.
Maybe some of us aren’t used to experiencing power in that way.
He could have rained down wrath upon us.
But He chose powerful, incomprehensible gentleness.
Gentleness!
Abounding love!
Friends, though it’s so easy to view something powerful as something negative, remember that Christ flips the script.
Wherever you’re at today,
May you find rest in his powerful love.
Powerful peace.
Powerful comfort.
May you find, and let your guard down so it can really sink in, just how deeply he loves you.
You.
He loves
you.
The one who was on his mind when he came to save the world
Was you.
Top photo: Jim Killam (Rock Cut State Park)
What a beautiful and powerful testimony through word and song of God’s upside down kingdom. Thank you for sharing this.
Kaylin, I’d never have guessed that the first part of your life was so difficult. Jesus has obviously really changed your life in a positive way over the years. Thanks for sharing.